PARIS: The prime ministers of Italy and Ireland both expressed hopes that a deal to save Greece from having to exit the eurozone will be reached over the weekend.
Matteo Renzi, at a joint press conference in Rome, said he was more optimistic than in the past that a deal with Greece over a new bailout package will be reached, although the Italian premier added that an eventual agreement wouldn’t “differ much” from what creditors proposed to Athens about 15 days ago.
I hope it isn’t necessary for EU leaders to meet Sunday because a Greek deal is already agreed before,” said Mr Renzi.
Enda Kenny said that hopefully the Eurogroup meeting scheduled for Saturday can sign off on an agreement with Greece, and if not then one can happen on Sunday.
Meanwhile, French President François Hollande said on Friday thatGreece’s economic overhaul proposals are “credible” and enable talks to keep the country in the eurozone to restart.
The French leader’s comments come as eurozone officials review a 13-page plan submitted by the Greek government ahead of crisis talks this weekend on whether to grant Greece further aid. In recent days, France has established itself as Greece’s leading advocate and has advised Athens on the content of the proposal.
“The program they are presenting is serious and credible,” Mr Hollande said. “France’s strategy is to do everything for a good deal, a deal that respects European rules and the Greeks who have suffered greatly in recent years.”
Mr Hollande has told Mr Tsipras what the Greek government must do to get other countries to back a bailout and has lobbied Germany to accept some of Greece’s demands. France argues that part of the deal between Athens and its creditors must include a clearer outlook on how to ease Greece’s debt burden.
Speaking in Madrid, France’s economy minister Emmanuel Macron — a vehement defender of greater burden-sharing in the eurozone — also sounded an optimistic note.
The level of reforms meets expectations,” Mr Macron said. “In this context, it is clear that elements of a debt restructuring will now be set out.”
On Thursday night, Greece submitted a 13-page plan with economic policy overhauls and budget cuts to its eurozone creditors, the International Monetary Fund and the Greek parliament.
Eurozone finance ministers and European leaders are set to assess the proposals during crisis meetings on Saturday and Sunday.
