Latvia

Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to meet German and French leaders in Riga this week to try to win consent for a joint statement that could give him more leeway in talks with international lenders and give a breath of air to his cash-strapepd government.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrived in Riga, Latvia, on Thursday ahead of a two-day EU Eastern Partnership Summit. The summit was expected to begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Sources indicated the Greek premier would meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the summit later on Thursday.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis was forced to say he respected the confidentiality of debt talks with his European counterparts after a news report claimed he recorded an April meeting.

Greece?s partners and creditors were considering extending the country?s existing bailout program until the fall, Germany?s Suddeutsche Zeitung reported.

By Christos Ziotis & Jeff Black

The European Central Bank approved the smallest rise in emergency cash for Greek lenders since tensions re-emerged in February, a sign that deposit outflows may be easing as political talks on the nation's finances improve.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras boarded a C-130 turbo prop from Elefsina for his 3.25-hour journey to Riga, Latvia, to attend the European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is due to hold talks on Thursday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of a European Union leaders? meeting in Riga in the hope that his counterparts will provide the political spur needed to help conclude negotiations between Greece and its lenders successfully.

European Commission (EC) President Jean-Claude Juncker’s proposal is a focal point of backstage negotiations surrounding Greece regardless of denials that it exists.

Ten out of all 28 countries within the EU have stated that they will be opposing the proposal made by the European Commission regarding the imposition of quotas in the process of accepting illegal immigrants. 

The unconfirmed information has been revealed to RIA Novosty by an anonymous sources in the Council of the European Union. 

European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the third package of EU macreconomic assistance of EUR 1.8 B to Ukraine in Latvia's capital Riga on Friday.