Wednesday, 11 February 2015 - 12:00
Dijsselbloem pushing Greece deal
Euro-group chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem (Minister of Finance) is pushing for an agreement to be made with Greece. The talks with Greece has been drawn out by quarreling and threats.
Reports about cooperation between Brussels and Greece in the run-up to the meeting today dampened preliminary concerns about a possible Greek exit from the euro-zone. The new Greek government wants to reverse the cuts in the country. Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said on Monday that Greece is still wiling to introduce some 70 percent of the agreed reforms. At the same time however, he continues to strive for a bridging arrangement, which will enable them to make new agreements with their creditors. According to Z24, the country is aiming for a bridging loan of 10 billion euros.
Greece and also the other EU countries need to stop throwing threats at each other. Minister Dijsselbloem said on RTL7 yesterday that "threats - from whoever - are not helping". This is in response t a statement made by the Greek Minister of Defense, who stated that if Greece does not agree with the euro countries, the country will just seek help elsewhere - From the US, Russia or China. Talk about a tough stance toward the new Greek government also came from the other euro countries.
According to Dijsselbloem, the euro countries should "ignore (all threats, ed) for a moment and go to work".