“I am confident that together we can find a mutually viable solution to heal the wounds of austerity, to combat the humanitarian crisis in the European Union and to put Europe back on growth and social cohesion,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told reporters before entering the EU Leaders Summit in Brussels, a day after Greece and the rest of the Eurogroup failed to agree on Greece’ bailout program.
Tsipras is expected to hold private meeting with as many as possible of his counterparts, however a private meeting with German Chancellor was not scheduled. Not because he didn’t want, but because Angela Merkel keeps showing him a cold shoulder and keeps Greece’s new political leadership at ear-deafening distance.
Arriving with two hours delay due to the talks in Minsk, Angela Merkel said that she was keen to welcome the new Prime Minister of Greece and that she is always “willing to show solidarity as long as there is compliance with the agreed conditions.”
“We will discuss the issue of Greece but only marginally,” she added.
I am convinced that Angela Merkel is much too exhausted after the 16-hour talks on the Ukraine, to start talks with Tsipras about a new Greek deal.”
“Marginal” discussion on Greece or not, Euro Council President Donald Tusk twitted that Dijsselbloem will brief the EU leaders on the Eurogroup meeting.
#Eurogroup president @J_Dijsselbloem will update #EUCO on talks on financial assistance to #Greece.
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) February 12, 2015
Tsipras call on Europe
After his meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel this morning, PM Tsipras said:
“Europe must respect democracy and the rules of the EU.
Now is time to change the mixture of politics and move forward with these reforms that the previous governments did not have the political will to apply.
Now it is time to combat with determination tax evasion, tax avoidance, the client state and the corruption relations with the financial oligarchy.
Now is the time not only in Greece but also for the rest of Europe to bring back development agenda and return to a path of social cohesion, which is necessary for our common European future.”
Greece’s PM will hold a press conference after the Summit.
PS German solidarity, my a**, so to say…
Germany kept Greece within the Euro for five years now, as it was the wish of a big majority of Greeks. Our share of the rescue fund credits is about 70 billion Euros, a lot of money that almost certainly we will have to pay for because of Greece’s totally unsatisfying reform efforts so far. That’s a quote solid show of solidarity, ktg, and imho you should rather thank us for our efforts! And show some understanding for us having no confidence at all in a new government that decided upon a lots of goodies that will increase the deficit, without doing anything to secure the necessary funds for that! Imho it should be obvious to everyone that we don’t want to put even more debt on our shoulders to subsidize such unsustainable policies. If Greece wants to go that way, it will have to do that on its own, with a fresh start, funded by its own currency. Solidarity has its limits and I guess we have reached them now.
the one-sighted shade of grey
The one-sighted are kings among the blind. Take my arm, ktg, I will lead you home!
😛
Gray phone home
That would be a boring conversation, ktg: I already know my opinions and I don’t argue with myself! It’s more interesting to virtually talk with you. While you disagree with me a bit too often for my liking, at least you (mostly) do that in a charming way!
🙂
Btw, here’s hoping you had a great valentine. All the best!
no time to comment on any comment here and in KTG’s social media.
During the weekend? You’re a busy bee, ktg!
🙂