BERLIN: Germany’s commissioner to the European Union says he expects a future aid package for Greece to amount to a little more than 10 billion euros ($13.36 billion) — which is much smaller than the country’s existing two rescue deals.

Guenther Oettinger, the EU’s energy commissioner and a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling conservative party, said the third aid package should cover the years 2014-2016.

In two bailout packages so far, Greece’s European partners and the International Monetary Fund have committed 240 billion euros ($320 billion) in loans.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble earlier said there will have to be another aid program after the current one expires next year.

Oettinger’s comments to weekly Welt a.m. Sonntag came four weeks before Germany’s general elections on Sept. 22.