×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Tuesday
27
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 11°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Economy

Critical Eurogroup meeting ends abruptly

An almost unbridgeable chasm separates the views of both sides

Newsroom February 16 08:25

The Eurogroup meeting ended abruptly on Monday evening, with the Greek side referring to an unacceptable “trap” from the appearance of a draft text it charges was merely a reheated memorandum agreement.

The text was leaked hours earlier, generating a quick “ochi” (no) by the Greek side. Athens’ radical leftist government was represented by FinMin Yanis Varoufakis, amongst others.

Statements are expected by Varoufakis and Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijssenbloem.

Key statements from Finance Ministers arriving in Brussels

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble

Earlier, upon his arrival at the Eurogroup meeting, the German FinMin made the following statement: “As long as Greek Govt doesn’t want a program, I don’t have to think about options.”

Schaeuble also told reporters that he is skeptical about today’s negotiations and that the chances of the two sides reaching an agreement are low.

Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan

The Irish FinMin stated upon his arrival that there is possibility for a new Eurogroup meeting on Friday, if today’s talks fail.

Noonan stated that, although the program runs out for Greece at the end of February, he still doesn’t know what the country’s specific requests are. However, he noted that the Eurozone FinMins would certainly accede to a Greek request for an extension of the program.

Austrian Finance Minister Hans Joerg Schelling

The Austrian FinMin stated that he has no expectation that an agreement will be reached today between the two sides. As he said, “last Wednesday’s experience showed us that we can agree, however we weren’t able to issue a joint statement.”

Schelling underlined that a solution is possible, despite the numerous obstacles. “It is a question of days rather than weeks and the problem is not the markets, but the cooperation diffuculties between Eurogroup and Greece.”

French Finance Minister  Michel Sapin

The French FinMin told reporters that a ‘good solution’ would be that Greece’s current program is extended, so that both sides will have more time for talks.

Spanish Finance Minister Luis De Guindos

>Related articles

Properties without a “premium”: The two taxes that stay out of the game and who benefits

The EU-India trade deal is concluded – Why it’s called “the mother of all agreements”

India immediately slashes tariffs on cars imported from the EU to 40%

Luis De Guindos has declared that he has a red line that can’t be broken: “Greece must repay its debts in full”

Varoufakis – Dijsselbloem meeting

It should also be noted that Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem met on Monday ahead of the Eurogroup meeting. Varoufakis and Dijsselbloem arrived at the premises where the meeting of the Eurozone Finance Ministers will be held, and entered the meeting without making any statements to the press.

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

> More Economy

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

In Megalopolis, Arcadia, the world’s oldest known wooden tools – see photos

January 27, 2026

The triple intervention to stop the ecological crime in Milos

January 27, 2026

Properties without a “premium”: The two taxes that stay out of the game and who benefits

January 27, 2026

Weather: Red code for severe phenomena today in Crete, two more waves of severe weather to follow

January 27, 2026

Tragedy in Trikala: Even steel melted in the fire at the Violanta factory – The unanswered questions

January 27, 2026

UN welcomes the return of the body of the last Hamas hostage, calls for full implementation of the ceasefire

January 27, 2026

Former Home Secretary in the Shunak government joins Farage’s party

January 27, 2026

40-year-old Nigerian man murdered 23-year-old ex-partner in Britain for breaking up with him

January 27, 2026
All News

> World

UN welcomes the return of the body of the last Hamas hostage, calls for full implementation of the ceasefire

24-year-old policeman Ran Gwili was killed defending the Alhumim kibbutz during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023

January 27, 2026

Former Home Secretary in the Shunak government joins Farage’s party

January 27, 2026

40-year-old Nigerian man murdered 23-year-old ex-partner in Britain for breaking up with him

January 27, 2026

Trump Doctrine “with me or out in the cold”: Europe in a difficult position, called to make critical decisions

January 26, 2026

Iranian authorities arrest protesters hospitalized in hospitals, UN official says

January 26, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα