Brussels, June 11 (IANS) German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande will continue “intense” negotiations with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to review the Greek financial rescue, a German government spokesperson said.
The three leaders discussed on Wednesday the state of negotiations between Greece and the three credit institutions formed by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund in a “constructive atmosphere,” the source said, according to Efe news agency.
“They agreed unanimously that talks between the Greek government and the credit institutions should be pursued with great intensity,” he said.
Merkel and Holland urged Athens to speed up negotiations as the extension on the second bailout for Greece is set to expire in around 20 days.
Greece will need to secure the approval of its bailout partners before June 30 on reforms and adjustments that the country must pursue in the days to come.
This would conclude the fifth and last review of the Greek financial rescue and unblock an estimated $8.14 billion outstanding in the programme.
Merkel insisted — “every day counts” and “where there is a will there is a way” — to reach an unanimous agreement with the government of Tsipras.
She had earlier left the European Council headquarters with a “good night” but no official statement to the waiting media.
The meeting followed a dinner of leaders participating in the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit.