EUROZONE-GREECE/RENZI Italy's Renzi says Greek deal may come before EU leaders meet Sunday

Record ID: 147699

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/RENZI Italy's Renzi says Greek deal may come before EU leaders meet Sunday
  • Date: 12th July 2015
  • Summary: ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** RENZI AND KENNY SHAKING HANDS AND ENTERING BUILDING RENZI AND KENNY TALKING AS THEY ARRIVE FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MATTEO RENZI SAYING: "Let's hope we don't have to see each other again on Sunday because that will mean that the deal has already been done on Saturday by our economy ministers,
  • Embargoed: 27th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAV8L107Z3QMIDHGXEAXQM1KJX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A FRIDAY STORY (JULY 10)
    Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Friday (July 10) said he was optimistic an aid-for-reforms deal would be reached between Greece and its creditors and he hoped a quick accord would mean a meeting of EU leaders planned for Sunday (July 12) would no longer be needed.
    Speaking at a news conference in Rome with Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny, Renzi said he was "more optimistic than before" following Greece's submission of a set of fiscal and reform proposals to its eurozone partners on Thursday (July 9).
    "Let's hope we don't have to see each other again on Sunday because that will mean that the deal has already been done on Saturday by our economy ministers, without the need for another summit on Sunday," Renzi told journalists following talks with Kenny.
    "I believe it's possible an agreement about Greece, we work for this agreement, we hope this agreement will be closed until (before) Sunday. The real question now is the type of Europe you can build. This is the question. It is absolutely crucial to save Greece and respect the international laws but at the same time I think we must imagine a Europe for the next generation. We discussed it with Enda, just to give you an example, in this moment we need a Europe focused on growth, ideas and values," he added.
    Kenny said he was pleased to see that Greece had tabled proposals and he hoped a deal would be signed off on Saturday (July 11) or Sunday (July 12).
    "I have to say that everyone of the leaders of the eurozone on Tuesday want Greece to be able to stay as a valued member and that this particular, exceptional difficulty can be dealt with. So the proposals are now being examined by the institutions. Hopefully, and I really mean this, hopefully that at the euro group meeting of ministers tomorrow that it can be signed off and if not that the leaders of the union can deal with it on Sunday. I'd like to think that the time ahead will be difficult for Greece and its citizens, that it will have the support of European colleagues in getting it back to a position of confidence, of stability, investment, of jobs and hope for the people of Greece, a proud and noble people with a very long and powerful tradition so I look forward to that," Kenny said.
    Finance ministers of the 19-nation euro area will meet on Saturday to decide whether to recommend opening negotiations on a third bailout programme for Athens despite widespread exasperation at the five-year-old Greek debt crisis.
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