(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, JUN 18 - Greece became on Thursday the third EU country to secure the European Commission's approval for a recovery plan to be financed by the bloc's coronavirus rescue fund. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement on the third stop of a tour to highlight EU approval for packages presented by countries that have suffered severe economic fallout from the pandemic. Financing is to come from an unprecedented 750-billion-euro EU fund that is to issue common bonds for the first time. Athens is to receive 17.8 billion euros in direct grants, and 12.7 billion in loans. "Our approval today is an important milestone for disbursement of 30.5 billion euros ($36.6 billion) over the next years," von der Leyen said after meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Agora. (ANSA-AFP).