Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras meetings in Brussels proved encouraging and investors took note with Greece’s main stock market closing around 5.5% higher. His meeting with German Chancellor Angela Austerity appeared warm if body language is anything to judge by. They held each other by their elbows, smiled and chatted as thoughts of the 240 bln euros in rescue loans that Greece is getting were brushed, if momentarily, to the side.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras
“We will need to find a solution that respects the positions of all parties, so this agreement will have to be based on the core values of Europe, democracy and the vote of the people, but also on the necessity to respect the European rules.” Arriving at the meeting, he said: “I am very confident that we can find a mutual viable solution in order to kill the humanitarian crisis across the EU and bring Europe back to growth.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel
“Europe always aims to find a compromise, and that is the success of Europe. Germany is ready for that, however, it must also be said that Europe’s credibility naturally depends on us respecting rules and being reliable with each other,” she said, adding that “compromises are agreed when the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.”

French Prime Minister Francois Holland
He greeted the Greek prime minister warmly, all smiles, and then pulled him aside for a serious private conversation. At the end of the press conference he said that Greece needs to respect the rules.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
“A measure that is annulled must be replaced with another that has the same budgetary, fiscal impact. It is on that basis that we will try to find an agreement over the coming days.”

Eurogroup Chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem
Leaving the EU leaders summit, he said: “I am optimistic that we will have an outcome on the technical process because I think that is a matter of simply comparing different measures and content of the program (and SYRIZA’s program). I am very cautious on the political side. It is going to be very difficult. It is going to take time. Don’t get your hopes up yet.”

European Parliament President Martin Schulz
“When a government takes up office, and particularly when there’s a lot of expectations placed on that new government, like is the case for Alexis Tsipras, then we need to wait and see, particularly as a lot of people in the government aren’t polticians with a lot of experience. They’ve come from different walks of life.”

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann
“Greece needs a fair chance. There are many other examples where we tried to find a solution with a government. We will need to do the same with Greece. The people of Greece have elected this government and we will have to deal with it. We should be motivated to find a way out.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite
Her greeting was unenthused when meeting with Tsipras, who she was placed beside in the seating arrangements, undoubtedly not happy with the warm ties that the new Greek government has with Russia.

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny
Arriving at the EU summit he gushed for two minutes over the chance to listen to what the new Greek PM has to say, especially “how he views his country and how he views the way forward. The European Council wants to work with the government of Greece.” Leaving the EU summit he said that he was encouraged to hear Tsipras stating that “contracts had to be honored.” He said that Tsipras needs time and space.

Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb
When told by a reporter that a “possible path forward” for Greece sounds like “oatmeal”, he says: “Oatmeal is very healthy, it is very good for you and I have it for breakfast every morning. I put a little bit of banana into it, I swallow it and at the end of the day I feel good. And I hope the same thing is going to happen with the Euro as well.”

Prime Minister of Estonia Taavi Roivas
He states that the country needs to continue with reforms. He points to his own country’s examples because Estonia got through reforms and lived to tell the tale. Just as he was about to elaborate, the Greek PM walked through and the media rushed to greet him.