Eurozone finance ministers meeting in Brussels on Saturday have serious doubts about Greece’s request for a bailout and a deal to start negotiating on the basis of Athens’ proposals is far from certain, sources close to the talks said.
Overnight, the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund gave a positive assessment of the cash-for-reforms plan put forward on Thursday by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, according to EU officials.
France, Greece’s most powerful ally in the Eurogroup of finance minister, also welcomed the proposals on Friday, raising expectations that ministers would agree to open negotiations over the weekend. That could avert bankruptcy and prevent Greece running out of euros and falling out of the currency bloc.
But Germany and other governments have remained sceptical and two euro zone sources said on Saturday that the demands for new financing from Athens had alarmed some Eurogroup members.
One source, who told Reuters that he was almost certain late on Friday that a deal would be agreed on Saturday, said he was now not so sure, four hours before ministers meet at 1300 GMT.
Read more at Reuters
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