While European leaders are preparing for the summit, the European finance ministers Eurogroup started its second meeting in less than 24 hours. Both sides presented their reform proposals, however they were not able to reach an agreement and resolve their differences.
It was decided that the Eurogroup meeting would be suspended so that the Greek side can discuss with the creditors and present a common proposal to the European finance ministers.
French President Francois Hollande noted that the main difference between the two sides was in regards to the means of implementation and not the measures, therefore “it’s a technical issue.”
Eurogroup Chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said the “door is still open” for Greece.
According to media reports, the meeting will resume on Saturday.
Greek PM Tsipras: ‘I am convinced we can reach a compromise…to overcome the crisis’
“I am convinced we can reach a compromise so that Greece and the Eurozone can overcome the crisis,” Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said going into an EU leaders’ summit in Brussels on Thursday, as talks in a bid to reach an agreement on Greece continued.
“European history is full of disagreements and negotiations that end in a compromise,” Tsipras said and expressed his conviction that the Greek proposals will make this possible.
EU’s Tusk says he has ‘good hunch’ of happy end to Greek drama
In an upbeat message as he arrived at the building where the European leaders’ summit will be held later on Thursday, European Council President Donald Tusk told reporters he had a “good hunch” that the talks on Greece will have a good outcome.
“The last hours have been really critical. But I have a good hunch that, unlike the Sophocles tragedies, this Greek story will have a happy end,” he said about the ongoing negotiations.
For the moment, Tusk noted that work was underway and that “for sure it will need still many hours,” adding that more information will be available after the meetings.
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