Le Monde | • Updated | By
The “Greek case” is again in the menu of European leaders on Thursday February 12th. In the afternoon, the Heads of State and Government of the euro area can be found on the occasion of a European Council in Brussels. This will be the first “real” meeting on the European stage for Alexis Tsipras, the new Greek Prime Minister.
This is also an opportunity to (re) send messages at the highest level before a new meeting of the Eurogroup, Monday 16 February, considered crucial. However, the positions of various parties still appear far apart.
- No one expected an agreement on Wednesday
“Our discussions were intense, progress has been made but not enough to reach a common position,” acknowledged Wednesday Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the President of the Eurogroup, after a meeting that lasted nearly 7 hours.
Citing a “ long and constructive discussion” M. Varoufakis, for his part, assured that he had “ never any question of an agreement tonight, but to get acquainted. “
The other 18 finance ministers of the euro area will not be made elsewhere illusions about their ability to convince the first time Mr. Varoufakis. But they thought at least be able to get agreement on a “work program”
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- The Europeans were waiting for a “signal” from the Greeks
Europeans expected Greeks they require “technical extension” of the aid plan signed in 2012 between Athens and its creditors of the troika (IMF, Central Bank and European Commission).
This aid plan ends on 28 February. Without extension, Greece, which faces billions of euros refunds this spring, quick payment default risk.
The Europeans would have liked the Greek government to tell them what reforms he wants set up priority, what funding it provides, how it will weigh or not on public spending …
- The Europeans were willing to some adjustments
The Europeans seemed ready to amend the list of some reforms not yet implemented by Athens, so that it matches the more “anti-austerity” program promised by Mr Tsipras to the Greeks.
They are, however, refused to accept a plan that would have been too expensive and would have destroyed five years of fiscal austerity.
- The Greek government has opposed a end of inadmissibility
Wednesday, draft conclusions was discussed at length. “ But Mr Varoufakis was finally rejected after a long phone call to Prime Minister Tsipras” recount two European sources. “ As Wolfgang Schäuble [German Finance Minister must] had already left Berlin, we had to abandon this draft joint statement. “
The government of Mr. Tsipras who has obtained the confidence of Parliament on a platform promising the end of austerity, had repeated in recent weeks, he refused any extension of the current aid plan and actions that go together.
“What was a problem was that we had to work under the previous program or new , we explained, hjeudi morning with the Greek government. We can not ask a new government to implement the reforms of the previous program. It would be as if the Greek elections did not take place. “
- Europe still hopes to find a compromise
” This sends a first meeting bad signal “ constataient several participants at the Eurogroup on Wednesday. It shows how the political work to bring the Greeks from the rest of Europe, is still considerable.
However, Europeans hope that a compromise will be found in time. “What matters is that the work continues,” indicated a diplomatic source said Wednesday night.
“We are very optimistic we’ll find a solution “, advance, for its part, the Greek government.
The goal remains the new Eurogroup Monday 16 February, to be able to announce an extension of the aid plan Greece and “skeleton” reforms. With possibly a primary budget surplus (excluding debt burden) that Athens would undertake to release.
- No one wants a “Grexit”
No one wants to take the risk of a “Grexit” – a Greek exit from the euro zone – which could be caused by a collapse of the Greek banking system if the country is found without international aid plan in early March.
No officer of the Eurozone no one wants to risk contagion to other countries identified as fragile (Spain, Portugal, Italy …). Moreover, everyone has an interest in Greece back on track for growth
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