Greek PM Alexis Tsipras’ statements after an extraordinary Euro summit focusing on the “Greek issue” were upbeat – in contrast to the reserved to negative statements by his European peers – as he promised that an agreement will be concluded by the end of the week, “at the latest”.
He told waiting reporters that his government did, in fact, submit proposals to the Eurogroup and summit participants, repeating that they are “socially just and economically viable”.
Tsipras promised reforms for a guarantee of the country’s funding needs, an investment plan aimed at jump-starting growth and a “start of substantive talks for necessary debt restructuring”.
Moreover, he pointed to a political mandate he has from voters – an allusion to Sunday’s referendum result – as well as a joint statement by most of Greece’s Parliament-represented political leaders, something achieved on Monday.
Asked about the specter of “Grexit”, as some European leaders hinted to only moments earlier, Tsipras simply referred to a “positive climate” in his talks in Brussels, and that procedures for an agreement will be accelerated for a conclusion this week.
“The Greek side will continue the effort, having the strong weapon of the Greek people’s verdict … the vast majority’s will for a viable agreement to end the discussion (about a Grexit) and offer the prospect of finally exiting the crisis,” he said.
Finally, he said he assessed that his European peers understood that the issue is not just a “Greek problem, but a European one.”