×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Saturday
10
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 12°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Economy

A bridge too far? Euro-group head dismissive of Athens' short-term plan

"We don’t do bridging loans,” were his exact words" were Dijssenbloem's exact words

Newsroom February 6 05:55

Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijssenbloem on Friday again dampened the new Greek government’s desire for a short-term economic deal — dubbed the “bridge” — until early June in order to present its proposals replacing a bailout package that concludes this month.

“We don’t do bridging loans,” were his exact words to reporters in The Hague, when asked about the Greek government’s main request.

Athens’ leftist SYRIZA government wants greater leeway to increase state spending, raise the private sector minimum wage and pensions on the low end, as well as to reverse labor sector liberalization and overturn, or block, certain privatizations. Those pledges formed the basis, in fact, of much of the party’s pre-election platform.

>Related articles

Three-day cold spell hits the country with a sharp temperature drop – Where it will snow (videos)

Severe weather arriving from tomorrow with temperatures dropping by up to 10°C – where it will snow

Opening access to a market of 300 million consumers for Greek products through the EU–Mercosur agreement: Benefits for olive oil, cheeses, kiwifruit, peaches and bakery products

The “bridge” financing scheme was a repeated theme in Greek FinMin Yanis Varoufakis’ contacts with European leaders this week.

Post-election, however, the Dutch politician, who chairs the bloc’s grouping of finance ministers, said other eurozone governments won’t give Athens the “green light”.

Varoufakis has previously said his anti-bailout government won’t accept a 7-billion euros tranche of an upcoming instalment, leaving Greece — at present, at least –without a backup financing scheme come March 1.

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

The US ready to help Iranians, says Trump – Officials discussed scenarios for an airstrike

January 10, 2026

“I am preparing to return”: The exiled son of the Shah of Iran wants to sit on the Peacock Throne, and the protests are his opportunity — he calls for an uprising

January 10, 2026

Three-day cold spell hits the country with a sharp temperature drop – Where it will snow (videos)

January 10, 2026

“Yes” to dialogue, “no” to Tuesday’s rally, farmers decide

January 10, 2026

Severe weather arriving from tomorrow with temperatures dropping by up to 10°C – where it will snow

January 10, 2026

Bloodshed in Iran: Doctor speaks of 217 dead from the unrest, “we are at war,” says Tehran

January 10, 2026

The Syrian army bombs Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo and calls on Kurdish fighters to surrender

January 10, 2026

Mitsotakis marks 10 years at the helm of New Democracy: The path since 2016 and the messages on the ideological identity

January 10, 2026
All News

> Politics

“Yes” to dialogue, “no” to Tuesday’s rally, farmers decide

The proposal for a gathering in Athens was rejected – “If our demands are not met, we will respond dynamically,” they warn – Tractors will remain at the roadblocks

January 10, 2026

Mitsotakis marks 10 years at the helm of New Democracy: The path since 2016 and the messages on the ideological identity

January 10, 2026

Parliament: The bill of the Ministry of Defence on the Armed Forces was passed by majority vote

January 9, 2026

Immigration Bill: An end to “adult minors” and benefits – Privileges for unaccompanied 17-year-olds are being cut

January 9, 2026

KYSEA to convene tomorrow under Kyriakos Mitsotakis

January 9, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα