The Greek government submitted a new reform proposal to its creditors and partners on Sunday, ahead of Monday’s critical Eurogroup and Summit meetings, in an effort to come to provide a definitive solution to the problem, rather than postpone it.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras traveled to Brussels on Sunday evening along with Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker.
Greece’s European partners have stressed the urgency in an agreement being reached in order to avert a default .On Sunday Mr. Hollande met with Italian PM Matteo Renzi at an international exhibition in Milan, where they both commented on the upcoming meetings in Brussels and negotiations with Greece.
The French President argued that “we are not far from an agreement. Greece does not want tougher measures for low-income pensioners, and we can understand that, given the consequences of the crisis. Therefore alternative proposals were requested. If Greece does what it has to do, it will receive the funds and I can say that I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic. Every moment is important”.
The Italian Prime Minister told journalists that “my sense is that the conditions for a win-win agreement exist. It would be a mistake to miss this opportunity. Therefore, we expect the results of tomorrow’s emergency summit”. Mr. Renzi added that “we want Greece to stay in the Eurozone, for its own good, but also for the good of the Eurozone and the community”.
The Prime Minister has arranged to meet with European Council president Donald Tusk, ECB chief Mario Draghi, IMF director Christine Lagarde, EC president Jean-Claude Juncker and the head of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem at noon. The critical Eurogroup has been rescheduled for 13:30, while the Euro Summit will begin at 20:00.
