Tsipras' determination for top-level talks peaked on Sunday night when a telephone conversation took place between Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, French president, Francois Hollande and the European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker.
My statement prior to meeting with EC President, Mr. @JunckerEU. #Greece #EUCO https://t.co/bZAO2gxzLe pic.twitter.com/LJObVicrV1
— Alexis Tsipras (@tsipras_eu) June 22, 2015
The Greek PM had argued that an agreement could only be reached at high political levels, leaving the Eurozone finance ministers, who are also gathering in Brussels to iron out the technical details. The left wing PM insists that Athens is ready to compromise. "All those who are betting on crisis and terror scenarios will be proven wrong," Tsipras said in a statement during his official visit to Russia.
"The EU, of which Greece is a member, must rediscover its true course by returning to its founding statutory principles and declarations: solidarity, democracy, social justice. This will be impossible, though, if the EU persists with austerity policies and the disruption of social cohesion, which only serve to further the recession," the statement said.
Would a default in #Greece strengthen anti-austerity parties in other countries? http://t.co/Yfx0FngMs3 #Eurozone pic.twitter.com/Fg0ggoeZmn
— World Economic Forum (@wef) June 20, 2015
In Brussels, Jean Claude Junker said progress had been made but "I don't know if we will have an agreement today."
Officials in Greece say it is unlikely a deal will be made on Monday — but today's meetings could be a positive step forward for one later in the week. Juncker's position is to steer Greece away from debt default and an exit by 'Graccident' from the Eurozone.
'Fixit', If There's a Grexit
As the dramatic dialogue continues with a deal yet to be made, the future of the European Union remains in the wings.
According to Paavo Matti Vayrynen, member of Finland's Centre Party, if Greece leaves the Eurozone, "Finland should do the same."
"We have wasted a lot of air miles today, both on the finance ministers' side and on the prime ministers' side," says @alexstubb on #Greece
— Peter Spiegel (@SpiegelPeter) June 22, 2015
In a statement on his official website, Vayrynen suggests that a Greek exit from the Eurozone would be opportunity for Finland to 'Fixit' and potentially leave the EU common currency.
"The transition to the single currency was a bad mistake."
Brussels is promising debt relief for Greece which must make a payment of $1.8 billion (€1.6 bn) to the IMF by the end of June to avoid default.
The Troika, Greece's international creditors, are looking at a deal to extend the country's bailout by six months and supply up to $20 billion (€18 bn) in rescue funds to prevent Greece from leaving the EU.
