Greece calls for speedier conclusion to talks

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has called for a speeding-up of work to conclude a reform-for-cash deal with eurozone creditors to keep his country afloat after talks with German chancellor Angela Merkel, yesterday.

The leftist Greek premier met the conservative German leader before an emergency European Union summit on migration, a day before eurozone finance ministers meet in Riga to review progress — or the lack of it — in slow-moving negotiations between Athens and its international lenders. A Greek official said they noted that “significant progress” had been made since they last met in Berlin a month ago.

“The prime minister asked that the procedures be speeded up so that the ... decision, which foresees a first interim agreement by the end of April, be implemented,” he said.

There was no immediate comment from the German side but Berlin has taken a tough line in insisting that Athens must carry out commitments made by a previous conservative-led government to reform labour markets, pensions and sales tax to unlock urgently needed international bailout funds. EU officials said Merkel would deliver a message that she wants to keep Greece in the single currency.

Reuters