Latest News from Greece
Eurogroup: French-German alliance cracks over Greece
A rift is beginning to tear between the French-German front. German newspaper reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel was not aware of French help to Greeks in drafting the proposals that are being offered to Greece’s creditors. Reports of an “angry call” from the German chancellery to the Elysee followed the news.
Nostalgia? Greece looks to future as state TV remembers the drachma (see doc)
Greek state TV channel, Vouli, chose the July 11 to feature a documentary on the Greek drachma.
Eurogroup: How much is PM A. Tsipras willing to give?
The EZ ministers are now taking a dinner break after three hours of talks. Reuters reports that Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos was told that he must offer deeper reforms if there is to be a third bailout. He reportedly called Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to discuss these additional measures.
Eurogroup conclusions: Will Greece’s hungriest be sent to the slaughter house? (Watch live)
The webcast following the Eurogroup meeting is due to start on July 11 at 22.00 CET. Arrivals showed that there is a lack of trust regarding Greece following the July 5 referendum when Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras received a popular mandate to bargain against austerity despite having been elected for this purpose.
Die Welt: France supports Greece debt write-off
French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron told German daily Die Welt on Saturday that the German government has resisted a restructuring of Greece’s debts but France insists that it must be eased.
“It is necessary to reduce the debt burden so that the Greek economy does not go under,” he said. “More competition doesn’t mean saving more!”
PM: Bulgaria Suffers Losses of EUR 80 M Due to Russian Sanctions
Bulgaria has suffered losses amounting to EUR 80 M due to the restrictions, which Russia has imposed on exports of agricultural production from Bulgaria.
This was announced by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov in the town of Malko Tarnovo on Saturday, Darik radio reports.
Shocking! Varoufakis attacks Proto Thema journalist on his way to Aegina (pics + vids)
Journalist Frixos Dracontidis of Proto Thema and photoreporter William Faithful followed Yanis Varoufakis to Aegina before being attacked by the former finance minister’s body guards. The same man who walked nonchalant down Syntagma Square while minister and who fearlessly chatted with his attackers at a restaurant at Exarchia has now hired bodyguards to do his dirty work.
Eat them! You can bite the heads of Greece's creditors (video)
As the Greek debt crisis plays out in Brussels, one Greek bakery in Athens decided to integrate Greece’s creditors into its confectionery on Friday by putting on show three crocodile-shaped loaves of bread named after the leaders of the institutions (IMF, ECB, EU).
Chalkidiki: Blood bath by the beach
A huge fued at a beach bar at Potidea, Chalkidiki, northern Greece, resulted in a tragedy. During an argument a young Georgian national, aged 29, open-fired against a group of Greeks – killing one and injuring three. Following the shooting the gunman disappeared and a huge manhunt is underway.
Greek proposals get green light from Euroworking Group
Positive developments in Brussels as the Euroworking Group required just a brief amount of time to give its approval of Greek proposals it received on Friday. Eurogroup is meeting at 4 p.m. (Greek time) to make any amendments and give its seal to the agreement before it heads to EZ parliaments for ratification.
Greek PM gets backing for bailout; EU, IMF give green light
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras won backing from lawmakers on July 11 for painful reform proposals aimed at obtaining a new international bailout, but he faced a rebellion in his own party that could threaten his majority in parliament.
Greek consulate in Istanbul 'investigated for corruption'
Officials of the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul are under investigation for alleged corruption, the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) reported July 11.
Inspectors from Athens carried out an inspection at the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul recently and discovered that hundreds of visas were allegedly issued illegally between 2011 and 2014, AMNA said.
Greek Parliament Approves Government's Bailout Reform Proposals
The Greek Parliament approved on Saturday the latest reform proposals, which the government in Athens submitted to the eurozone late on Thursday.
The proposed package of spending cuts, pension savings and tax increases, which Greece has to fulfill in order to be granted further bailout, garnered an overwhelming parliamentary support.
Scoop: EC source tells FAZ 100% chance of Greek bailout deal
Greek Parliament approved proposals put forth by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that provide the basis for negotiations on a new bailout program.