Alexis Tsipras

Greek PM has reportedly requested an extraordinary EU Summit for Sunday if Friday’s eurogroup meeting fails to endorse Athens’ request for a loan agreement extension.

Below is somewhat enigmatic Tweet sent by European Council President Donald Tusk on Friday, which doesn’t relate the substance of his contacts with Tsipras.

Bild on Friday claimed a 'mix up' in the letters sent by Athens to request a loan agreement extension was the reason behind Wolfgang Schaeuble's surly 'nein', something however, the SYRIZA government categorically denied.

By Jan Strupczewski & Renee Maltezou

Greece's leftist prime minister said on Friday he was certain eurozone finance ministers would accept Athens' request for an extended loan but Germany demanded "significant improvements" in Greek reform commitments.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel indicated that "improvements" were needed to the substance of a proposal submitted by Greece for an extension to its loan agreement a few hours before a crucial meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels.

By Paul Tugwell and Nikos Chrysoloras

Germany and its allies are ready to let Greece leave the euro unless Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accepts the conditions required to extend his country?s financial support, according to Malta?s finance minister, Edward Scicluna.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told Reuters on Friday he is "certain" his government's request for a six-month loan extension would be accepted despite Berlin's objections and called for a "historic political decision" to seal a deal.

By Joao Lima

Greece?s new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras won?t get much sympathy from Portugal for his debt-relief call.

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras made a statement to Reuters shortly before the critical Eurogroup meeting in Brussels on Friday.

The Germany chancellery has expressed an opinion that the Greek government’s tabled proposal for a six-month extension of the loan agreement is a “great basis for further negotiations”.

German Chancellery spokesperson Steffen Seibert said Greece is interested in receiving help from the EU.

Finance Minister of the Britain, George Osborne sees the debt crisis in Greece leading to a generalized problem for the Eurozone. The Minister’s statements come just a few hours prior to the crucial Eurogroup meeting. He also reiterated that the Eurozone needs to find a commonly acceptable solution, while the UK should continue its monetary policy which has “kept it safe”.