Athens asks creditors for 9-month extension; Tsipras-Merkel-Hollande meeting underway

Ong

The Greek government will reportedly request a nine-month-long loan agreement, according to sources close to the PM’s office.

The leak came hours after Greek PM Alexis Tsipras finally got a meeting he wanted with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande in Brussels, on the sidelines of a summit between the EU and Latin American countries.

The same sources, quoted from the Belgian capital, said the request includes capital from the EFSF as well as an exchange of debt between the ESM and the European Central Bank.

The goal, again according to the same government sources, aims to revive the stalled Greek economy.

In hinting at looming compromises on the Greek side, the sources said Athens is willing to discuss primary surplus target.

The information was released in the leftist government’s preferred form of communication on so-called sensitive subjects, i.e. via “non papers”.