Germany: Greek proposal 'not a substantial proposal for a solution'

Germany has responded coldly to Greece's bailout extension request.

Greece had this morning sent its proposals over its frozen bailout programme in an effort to end uncertainty over the debt-heavy country’s future in the euro.

German Finance ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said the letter from the new Greek government “is not a substantial proposal for a solution”.

He says that it amounts to a request “for bridge financing without fulfilling the demands of the (bailout) programme”.

Germany, a key creditor, has insisted that aid for struggling countries must come with strings attached.

Mr Jaeger added that the letter from Greece does not correspond to criteria agreed by the eurozone countries.

An EU official said a meeting of the 19 eurozone finance ministers would take place in Brussels on Friday.

Government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis said that Greece is doing everything it can to reach a speedy and mutually acceptable deal with the other 18 European countries that use the euro.

But he insisted that the new government would not accept further austerity measures to secure continuation of the bailout support the country needs.