\
Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis met with European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Pierre Moskovici and Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem ahead of the critical Eurogroup meeting on Monday in Brussels.
So far, several Eurozone officials have expressed their disapproval of the list of reforms that was sent last week to the Eurogroup head by Greek FinMin Varoufakis and also their doubts that a mutually satisfying agreement could be reached today.
Pierre Moskovici
Shortly before his meeting with Varoufakis, Pierre Moskovici stressed that Greece must provide more specifics about its reform plans at today’s meeting.
He also underlined that it is ‘essential’ that the Greek government works with the ‘Institutions’ on the technical level.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem
Upon his arrival at the meeting, Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said that Greece must stop wasting time and develop its reform package.
On the risk of Greece going bankrupt, the Eurogroup head said that Europe will offer further support for Greece if the country sticks to the reform path. Moreover, he expressed the opinion that the talks about the program should restart very quickly, as both sides are losing valuable time.
“Since the last eurogroup little has been done in terms of future talks. The key issue now is not to waste any more time,” Dijsselbloem added.
Michael Noonan
Upon his arrival at the Eurogroup meeting which will take place today in Brussels, Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan told reporters that Greece’s deputy prime minister Yannis Dragasakis will lead the negotiations with the country’s creditors, rather than finance minister Yanis Varoufakis.
The surprising news were first reported by Guardian correspondent in Brussels Ian Traynor. However, shortly after the Eurogroup meeting begun, close associates of Deputy PM Dragasakis refuted the Irish FinMin’s statement.
It should be noted that Dragasakis has attended earlier eurogroup meetings, and also chairs the government’s economic council.
Watch the arrivals of the European officials and their statements
Ask me anything
Explore related questions