BBC Online :
Greece has submitted “no concrete proposals” for a new bailout, at a key meeting of eurozone finance ministers, Malta’s PM says.
Joseph Muscat tweeted that this “doesn’t help this evening’s eurozone leaders’ meeting” in Brussels.
The eurozone had urged Greece to submit fresh plans after its people rejected a new draft bailout in a referendum.
Greek PM Alexis Tsipras is to address the European Parliament on Wednesday, a Greek government source said.
Reports say that the Greek side gave a presentation at the finance ministers’ meeting on Tuesday. However, there was no new written plan.
Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos told a Spanish reporter: “There was no proposal. We only talked about general things. And we don’t have time to waste.”
One source told Reuters: “They say they will submit a new request and outline of proposals, maybe tomorrow (Wednesday).”
Reflecting the level of difficulty at the meeting, another eurozone official said: “If they really plan to present something formal tomorrow, they may not find anyone to read it.”
A picture of Angela Merkel wearing an old Prussian military helmet dominates the front cover of Bild. “Today,” the headline reads “we need the Iron Chancellor!” referring to Otto von Bismarck, who first held the post.
For weeks the tabloid has been leading the charge against Greece. Like many here, it has had enough. “No more billions for Greece,” it urged on Tuesday.
The chancellor is under huge domestic pressure not to cave in to Greek demands for debt relief. Her deputy, Sigmar Gabriel, has said that to do so would destroy the eurozone.
And on Tuesday the CSU (her party’s Bavarian ally) went further: general secretary Andreas Schueur wants Berlin to reject further negotiations, let alone a third bailout package. The Bavarian finance minister, Markus Soeder, has said he simply wants Greece out of the eurozone.
And these are the MPs who will have to vote before negotiations over any proposed new deal can even start. Mrs Merkel says she wants to keep the eurozone together; she’s got a battle on her hands at home first.
Mr Tsipras has been reported to want Greece’s vast €323bn ($356bn; £228bn) debt to be cut by up to 30%, with a 20-year grace period.
He will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande before eurozone leaders meet at a summit in Brussels on Tuesday evening, a Greek government official said.
French PM Manuel Valls said earlier that France would do all it could to keep Greece in the eurozone and that “the basis for a deal exists”.
However, Germany has warned against any unconditional write-off of Greece’s debt, amid fears it would destroy the single currency.
Greece has submitted “no concrete proposals” for a new bailout, at a key meeting of eurozone finance ministers, Malta’s PM says.
Joseph Muscat tweeted that this “doesn’t help this evening’s eurozone leaders’ meeting” in Brussels.
The eurozone had urged Greece to submit fresh plans after its people rejected a new draft bailout in a referendum.
Greek PM Alexis Tsipras is to address the European Parliament on Wednesday, a Greek government source said.
Reports say that the Greek side gave a presentation at the finance ministers’ meeting on Tuesday. However, there was no new written plan.
Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos told a Spanish reporter: “There was no proposal. We only talked about general things. And we don’t have time to waste.”
One source told Reuters: “They say they will submit a new request and outline of proposals, maybe tomorrow (Wednesday).”
Reflecting the level of difficulty at the meeting, another eurozone official said: “If they really plan to present something formal tomorrow, they may not find anyone to read it.”
A picture of Angela Merkel wearing an old Prussian military helmet dominates the front cover of Bild. “Today,” the headline reads “we need the Iron Chancellor!” referring to Otto von Bismarck, who first held the post.
For weeks the tabloid has been leading the charge against Greece. Like many here, it has had enough. “No more billions for Greece,” it urged on Tuesday.
The chancellor is under huge domestic pressure not to cave in to Greek demands for debt relief. Her deputy, Sigmar Gabriel, has said that to do so would destroy the eurozone.
And on Tuesday the CSU (her party’s Bavarian ally) went further: general secretary Andreas Schueur wants Berlin to reject further negotiations, let alone a third bailout package. The Bavarian finance minister, Markus Soeder, has said he simply wants Greece out of the eurozone.
And these are the MPs who will have to vote before negotiations over any proposed new deal can even start. Mrs Merkel says she wants to keep the eurozone together; she’s got a battle on her hands at home first.
Mr Tsipras has been reported to want Greece’s vast €323bn ($356bn; £228bn) debt to be cut by up to 30%, with a 20-year grace period.
He will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande before eurozone leaders meet at a summit in Brussels on Tuesday evening, a Greek government official said.
French PM Manuel Valls said earlier that France would do all it could to keep Greece in the eurozone and that “the basis for a deal exists”.
However, Germany has warned against any unconditional write-off of Greece’s debt, amid fears it would destroy the single currency.
