EUROZONE-GREECE/EU COMMISSION EU Commission stands ready to engage in further talks with Greece

Record ID: 151473

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/EU COMMISSION EU Commission stands ready to engage in further talks with Greece
  • Date: 15th June 2015
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EU COMMISSION EU FLAGS
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA29VCP74IIETOVMBSDLERCZUYF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The European Commission on Monday (June 15) said it stood ready to engage in further talks with Greece if there were any new proposals from Athens adding that demands from its creditors were valid and made full economic sense.
    Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told a news conference that the EU's executive commission is ready to host another round of talks between the Greek government and its creditors.
    "President Juncker is disappointed that, despite his consistent and great efforts to facilitate progress in these talks, this progress was not so evident but, still, as we said yesterday, we stand ready if there something new to engage with the Commission, our Commission building and the president's office are open 24/7 so, if there is anything new, we would be very happy to contribute as mediators in taking these talks further," Schinas said.
    The comment came a day after talks on ending a deadlock between Greece and its international creditors broke up in failure, with European leaders venting their frustration as Athens stumbled closer towards a debt default that threatens its future in the euro.
    The Commission's economic policy spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt said the package proposed by the institutions was substantial and valid.
    "The package proposed by the institutions is substantial, it's balanced and it makes full economic sense. The proposals meet the needs of the Greek people, the Greek Government but also of the other 18 member states who also are democratically accountable," Breidthardt said.
    Earlier, European Union officials blamed the collapse on Athens, saying it had failed to offer anything new to secure the funding it needs to repay 1.6 billion euros to the International Monetary Fund by the end of this month.
    Greece retorted it was still ready to talk, but that EU and IMF officials had said they were not authorised to negotiate further. Athens insists it will never give in to demands for more pension and wage cuts.
    Breidthardt said creditors asked for reforms of the Greek pension system because of its expensiveness but denied they asked for more specific cuts.
    "Yes, the pension system is one of the most expensive parts of spending. It's also one of the most expensive pension systems in Europe and therefore a reform of the pension system is part of the requirements. The institutions again are not and have not asked for cuts in individual pensions," Breidthardt said.
    Following what it called a "last attempt" at a solution, the EU Commission said on Sunday eurozone finance ministers would now tackle the issue when they meet on Thursday.
    With no technical deal apparently possible, the ministers are likely to have to make difficult political decisions on Greece's membership of the currency bloc.
    Failure to keep Greece in the euro, after years of arduous negotiations and two emergency bailouts totalling 240 billion euros, would send it lurching into the unknown and mark a historic blow to the EU's most ambitious project.
    Last Friday, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had indicated he would accept painful compromises on demands for austerity and reform in return for debt relief.
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