As Greece’s new leaders were on a European capitals’ tour to seek for support for their anti-austerity programme and to soften the pressure on their country, the German government issued a letter stating that “The Eurogroup needs a clear and front-loaded commitment by Greece to ensure full implementation of key reform measures necessary to keep the program on track”. The document, revealed by Reuters on 4 February, was published on the eve of a Eurozone finance ministers’ meeting in Brussels. The same day the European Central Bank decided it will no longer accept Greek bonds as collateral for loans and gave the Greek government one week to reach an agreement with its international lenders or face serious cashflow problems. For I Kathimerini Berlin’s letter is “complete overthrow of the government's election commitment”, and it will be “categorically rejected by prime minister” Alexis Tsipras — Athens is now called upon to follow the path to a rough environment, as the proposal put forward for a "bridge agreement" appears to have not been accepted by the partners. [...] the conflict between Athens and Berlin will probably be transferred to the summit of 12 February.
 |
| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.voxeurop.eu |