German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s statement upon her arrival on the second day of the European Council in Riga, Latvia, on Friday made it clear that there was no significant breakthrough during her meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday. She said that the meeting between herself, Tsipras and French President Francois Hollande was a “very friendly, constructive exchange” but told reporters that more work needs to be done.

She said: “France and Germany have offered Greece and the Greek Prime Minister that whenever there are questions to be discussed, whenever there is help to be given, to do so but the conclusion needs to be found with the three institutions and there needs to be very, very intensive work.” 

German Newspapers

The German press concentrated on the trilateral meeting that ran for two and a half hours. Frankfurter Allgemeine’s title read “No Progress in Riga” in reference to the meeting aimed at finding a solution for Greece’s debt crisis. The same newspaper underlines that time is running out for Greece.

Die Zeit reported that Tsipras hopes for an agreement in May but noted that reporters have only been offered a small glimpse into the content that was discussed between the three leaders.

Tagesschau reported that the meeting was “friendly and constructive” without substantial progress. This was confirmed by a German government official who said that the meeting took place in a constructive and friendly climate with an agreement that talks between the Greek side and its international creditors from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund would continue. 

On its part, German Handelsblatt reported that the three leaders did not make comments after the meeting in its article, titled “Two hours of talks and then ‘Goodnight'”.

All newspapers pointed to Hollande’s warnings prior to the meeting that there should not be great expectations as the meeting between Eurozone ministers is where decisions on Greece will be made.