Constanza Morales
The Greek Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis talks with Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF, at the meeting of Eurogroup.
The default of Greece seems closer than ever after the Eurogroup could not bring the positions of the parties and after IMF discarded provide a grace period in If the country does not make payment of four loans which expires on June 30.
The finance ministers of the euro zone met yesterday in Luxembourg to try to find a solution to the Greek situation, but efforts were unsuccessful.
In the post-match conference, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the Eurogroup, said that “it is unfortunate that there are so made little progress in the talks” and that “there is no agreement in sight “.
In any case, the Dutch Finance Minister said that there is still time to reach a credible solution and confirmed that there will be an emergency summit of euro zone leaders on Monday.
Bloomberg reported that the European Central Bank will meet today to consider the application of the Bank of Greece to increase by more than 3 billion euros the Emergency Liquidity Assistance.
Even before the meeting, Dijsselbloem was pessimistic about a quick agreement. “I do not have much hope,” he said in response to a question about a positive result in yesterday’s session.
The pact “requires more steps by the Greek side, because we need a strong agreement. He requires sustained in the coming years and needs to be credible for Greece and the euro zone. I’m not sure we achieve some progress, “he said.
Earlier, the IMF dismissed the possibility of extending the payment of 1,500 million euros that the nation must carry on 30 June.
Christine Lagarde, managing director of the agency, closed one of the last options in the country by declaring that Athens considered in default if it fails disbursement, which contrasts with reports saying there could be a margin.
“It will be in default, be in arrears to the IMF on July 1, but hopefully not the case, I really hope so,” he said. “There is no grace period or a delay of two months, as I have seen here and there”, he said.
Merkel convinced
The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel also believes that Greece can still reach an agreement with your creditors as long as the Greek government to implement economic reforms.
The German leader said in a speech to parliament that “Greece has received unprecedented solidarity in the last five years. The basic principle still applies: “.
” aid in exchange for reforms of Germany’s efforts are aimed at keeping Greece in the euro, “he quoted Bloomberg. “I remain firmly convinced that where there’s a will there’s a way. If those responsible in Greece show this will, then an agreement with the three institutions is possible, “he said.
Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank, said that his speech was” a bit of a background of frustration “because Athens has not come to accept the last proposal of Europe offered last week.
” The main message is that you in Athens, you government, need to have the will, “he told Bloomberg Television. “If they will, there is a way. But if you do not really want an agreement with Europe that is in line with European regulations, then of course we can not help them. “
blind insistence
On Meanwhile, the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras insisted that the claims of creditors to make cuts in pensions worsen the economic crisis.
“The blind insistence cuts (pensions) in a country with an unemployment rate of 25% and where half of all young people are unemployed only cause further deterioration of the already dramatic social situation, “Wen wrote in a column for the Berlin daily Der Tagesspiegel.
The leader of Syriza stated that pensions are the only source of income for countless Greek families.
Tsipras, who yesterday made a symbolic visit to Russia at a time when relations between Moscow and the Old Continent are not the best, also tried to dispel the “myth” about the Germans are the ones paying the salaries and pensions of the Greeks.
“Anyone who claims that German taxpayers are coming by salaries and pensions for the Greeks is lying, “appropriated Reuters.
” I’m not denying that there are problems … but I’m taking the word here to show why the ‘cuts’ offense’ of recent years not has it led nowhere, “he said.
As the possibility of a solution recedes, deposit withdrawals from banks Hellenes accelerated again this week. According to banking sources quoted by Reuters, customers took 2 billion euros between Monday and Wednesday
.
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