EUROZONE-GREECE/JUNCKER 'No' vote would dramatically weaken Greek negotiating position, EU's Juncker says

Record ID: 148550

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/JUNCKER 'No' vote would dramatically weaken Greek negotiating position, EU's Juncker says
  • Date: 3rd July 2015
  • Summary: LUXEMBOURG, LUXEMBOURG (RECENT) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF KIRCHBERG CONVENTION CENTRE FLAGS OF VARIOUS EU MEMBER STATES, INCLUDING GREECE LUXEMBOURG, LUXEMBOURG (JULY 3, 2015) (REUTERS) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER AND LUXEMBOURG PRIME MINISTER XAVIER BETTEL ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURE
  • Embargoed: 18th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Luxembourg
  • Country: Luxembourg
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9UVWXQHKC8DG62ZWIA4NRTE0Y
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A 'no' vote in Sunday's referendum would dramatically weaken Greece's position in debt negotiations, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Friday (July 3), declining to say whether creditors would re-open negotiations in that case.
    Juncker also said that even in the case of a 'yes' vote, negotiations would not be easy.
    "Even in the case of a 'yes' vote, we'll have to face difficult negotiations. In the case of a 'No' vote, the Greek position will be dramatically weakened," Juncker said.
    Juncker added that no talks between Greece and its international creditors were currently under way.
    "The programme has come to an end, there are no negotiations under way, if the Greeks will vote no, they have done everything but strengthening the Greek negotiation position. The Greek negotiation position will be dramatically weakened by a 'no' vote," Juncker said.
    Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' plan to hold a referendum on Sunday on creditors' demands for austerity has prompted a breakdown in talks with lenders, forced Greece to shut banks and left its future in the euro in doubt.
    The result of the vote remains unclear as campaigning gets underway in earnest. But whether Greeks choose 'yes' or 'no', the country is expected to face a new period of uncertainty and political turmoil.
    Largely dominated by questions over the Greek crisis, the news conference was meant to focus on the agenda of the newly inaugurated Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union which officially started on July 1.
    Accompanied by the entire College of Commissioners, Juncker earlier held a meeting with the Luxembourgish government to discuss the Luxembourg's priorities for the next six months.
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