German Lutherans

A senior member of parliament in Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) said on Tuesday that a Greek exit from the eurozone would have to be accepted if the Athens government does not present a solid reform package.

The German parliament will not back any agreement to rescue Greece if the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not taking part, the parliamentary leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) said on Monday.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz told a national television audience in Germany on Sunday evening that he called Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier, with both agreeing to do whatever they can to keep Greece in the Eurozone.

The most crucial phase of the negotiations began on Saturday evening, since Minister Nikos Pappas is meeting with EC officials. This meeting is preparatory, according to the Maximos Mansion.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces growing dissent within her conservative party over efforts to keep Greece in the eurozone after months of drawn-out, quarrelsome debt talks.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras?s talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande ended in Brussels late on Wednesday with an agreement to further intensify efforts to reach an agreement between Greece and its lenders.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande will meet with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on the sidelines of a European Union summit, an official German spokesperson said on Wednesday.

By Paul Carrel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing growing opposition among her ruling conservatives to granting Greece any further bailout funds, increasing pressure on her to drive a hard bargain with Athens.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Tuesday denied reports that there was a rift between Chancellor Angela Merkel and himself on Greek debt negotiations.

"You shouldn't waste much time on these rumors," Schaeuble said during a panel at an economic conference organized by Merkel's conservative CDU party in Berlin.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis warned June 8 that EU leaders had a duty to avoid a historic "failure" and urged a swift accord in Greece's debt talks with its creditors.