Bild: Varoufakis rules out presenting new reforms at Eurogroup

Y. Varoufakis told “Bild” that a Grexit isn’t a “sensible solution” but cannot be ruled out

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis told German daily “Bild” on Tuesday that he did not intend to present a list of new reforms at the upcoming Eurogroup meeting of eurozone finance ministers on June 18. “The Eurogroup is not the right place to present proposals which haven’t been discussed and negotiated on a lower level before,” he said.

He reiterated that debt restructuring was the only way forward, but he ruled out a “Grexit” as a sensible solution. He added that “no one can rule out everything. I can’t even rule out a comet hitting the earth.”

He said that the Greek negotiation team is “available at any time” to find a comprehensive solution with its partners. The European Commission (EC), one of Greece’s three main creditors, however said that Greece was unwilling to agree on substantial reforms that would involve slashes to pensions, hikes in sales tax, disarming the labor force, etc.

On his part, Varoufakis told “Bild” that officials from the European Central Bank (ECB), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and EC needed to return to the negotiation table with a “clear, robust mandate.”

Once again, Varoufakis – following his recent “Speech of Hope” – called on German Chancellor Angela Merkel to help in negotiations. He said that an overnight deal would be possible if she took part in talks. “We don’t want any more money,” he said, adding that Greece had already been given “far too much” money.