Germany, France usher Greece back to negotiating table
Germany and France have urged Greece to return to negotiations to complete a reform agreement before cash runs out.
European leaders told Greece on Friday to return to the negotiating table for “intensive work” to wrap up a reform agreement before cash runs out, sidestepping Athens‘ demand for a comprehensive, long-term solution to its troubles.
With his country risking default in as little as two weeks, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras flew to Riga to press German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande for a political push to break the impasse in technical-level talks with European Union and International Monetary Fund creditors.
The leaders offered help, but told Tsipras to get back to focusing on talks with the so-called “Brussels Group” of European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF lenders – the trio bankrolling Greece since it nearly went bankrupt in 2010.
“It was a very friendly, constructive exchange, but it’s also clear that there must be more work with the three institutions. There is a lot to do,” Merkel told reporters on the sidelines of an EU summit in Riga.
She said France and Germany had offered to help whenever it was needed, but said: “The conclusion needs to be found with the three institutions and there needs to be very, very intensive work.”
Acknowledging Greece‘s dire financial state as its cash runs dry, Hollande said the focus should be on a quick deal that allows the reopening of aid so Greece can be sure of making payments to the IMF in early June.
