After Friday’s Eurogroup in Riga, where Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis faced hostility from his Eurozone counterparts, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras contacted German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday, in order to ensure that the negotiations continue.
With the negotiations between Greece and its creditors having reached a critical point and with time running out, Mr. Tsipras contacted the German Chancellor in order to demonstrate his intent to push the process forward, in order to come to an agreement.
After communicating with Mrs. Merkel, the Greek PM also contacted the Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem. Although it has not been revealed what they discussed, it is likely that they talked about Friday’s Eurogroup and the hostile climate for Greece and Mr. Varoufakis.
Perhaps the more important development on Sunday, regarding the negotiations, was Economic Advisor Council (SOE) president Giorgos Houliarakis officially being tasked to overlook the technical aspects of the negotiations. Mr. Houliarakis was later confirmed to have contacted European Commission official Declan Costello, with whom he agreed to being procedures for a Brussels Group teleconference on Monday and a meeting on Wednesday.
