Greece's economy expanded by 0.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2015, the national statistics agency estimated today, with the country also escaping recession in the first quarter.

According to the new figures, the Greek economy posted zero growth in the first quarter of the year after having contracted 0.2 per cent in the last quarter of 2014.

The results show Greece averted two periods of decline, which would have constituted a recession.

The figures showed second quarter growth up 1.4 per cent compared to the same period the previous year.

Overseeing growth: Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos a parliamentary session in Athens earlier today. Greece's economy expanded by 0.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2015

Previous estimates by the agency showed the economy shrinking by 0.4 per cent in the final period of 2014, and by 0.2 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

The news came as a rare ray of light for the debt-swamped eurozone country, as its parliament prepares to vote Thursday on a new €85 billion bailout deal with international creditors - its third rescue plan in half a decade.

Athens and its creditors are under pressure to approve the draft accord in time to meet an August 20 deadline for the repayment of some €3.4 billion Greece owes the European Central Bank.

The growth figures also came hot on the heels of European Union forecasts showing the Greek economy - which only emerged from six years of brutal recession in 2014 - shrinking 2.3 per cent in 2015 and 1.3 per cent in 2016.

Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis (right)) addresses the parliament committees, in Athens

Greek lawmakers are preparing to vote on the terms of the country's third international bailout since 2010, which have split the ruling radical left Syriza party and met with a wary response in Berlin.

The vote comes a day before eurozone finance ministers meet to issue their verdict on the draft deal reached by Athens and its creditors after weeks of negotiations - and despite Germany saying it needs further clarifications from Greece before giving the deal the nod.

'I must to go to the Eurogroup tomorrow with the deal approved (by parliament),' Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos told the chamber.

Greece hopes that by quickly adopting the €85 billion rescue plan negotiated with the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund it can unlock a first tranche of aid before a 3.4-billion-euro repayment to the ECB falls due on August 20.