It is a partly divided Europe which meets Tuesday in Brussels. The leaders of the eurozone have not yet managed to speak with one voice about the resumption of negotiations with the Greece whose financial situation is becoming urgent to address. The negotiations are expected to resume in consistently heavy atmosphere, but different after the victory of the “no” to the Greek referendum last Sunday. If François Hollande and Angela Merkel have called Alexis Tsipras to return to the negotiating table, they still expect him to come back with proposals “serious”.
Washington calls on the EU and Greece to find a compromise
“The referendum is over, but our vision remains the same.” The White House called for a solution “that allows Greece to remain in the euro zone.” “The task that European leaders face remains the same,” insisted the spokesman for Barack Obama, adding that it was necessary for Greece and the EU “to agree on a set of reforms and financing which enable Greece to be on the road to a sustainable debt management, but also for economic growth. ” Obama also met with Francois Hollande on this. The two leaders discussed “the importance of finding a way forward to allow Greece to resume the reforms and return to growth (…) within the Eurozone,” acknowledging however “this will require difficult compromises on all sides.”
Paris and Berlin, the door is always “open to discussions”
Gathered for dinner Working at the Elysee Palace, Angela Merkel and François Hollande decided to let a chance for Greece to return to the negotiating table, while admitting that there was “urgent”. The German Chancellor added that “the door remains open to discussions”, inviting also the Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to make “specific proposals (…) and serious” and to “show responsibility.”
French supported a Greek exit from the euro area
According to a survey to Odoxa Le Parisien, 50% of French people want to see Greece leave the euro zone (against 49% supported its retention), a figure up. Three-quarters of French also advocate other policies that austerity to overcome the crisis. For 24% of respondents, the austerity policies “are the only way for Europe out of the economic crisis.” To the question “At what solution would you be most favorable for solving the very high debt level of Greece?” 55% wish to meet “extend the repayment term,” 22% want “to cancel part of the debt” and 7% its entirety. Fifteen percent want instead a continuation of debt and deadlines.
Tsakalotos, new Greek Finance Minister
This is not an unknown face that should settle the negotiating table. Euclid Tsakalotos was previously Deputy Foreign Minister and coordinator of negotiations with creditors of Greece, the EU and IMF . He was appointed Monday afternoon finance minister, replacing resigning Yanis Varoufakis. In his first address, he said that the Greeks “deserved better” and that they “were not going to accept a non-viable solution.” “We want to continue the discussion” with the creditors, “I believe that something can change in Europe,” he said.
The banks remain closed until Wednesday
While reopening was scheduled for Tuesday, the government finally decided to extend the closure of banks until Wednesday. The limit on bank withdrawals was maintained at 60 euros per day.
The ECB holds aids, the IMF prepared to intervene
The European Central Bank (ECB) announced the continuation the current level of emergency lending (ELA) to Greek banks, while tightening the conditions for granting. For its part, through the voice of its Director General, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said he was ready to help Greece “if we so requests.”
When does the ECB can it cut funding?
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