Brussels, 31/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - National experts from the member states in the Euro Working Group are due to hold a teleconference on Wednesday to bring them up to speed on progress in the talks between Greece and the Brussels Group (the European Commission, European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund and European Financial Stability Facility) about the list of reforms that Greece has to implement in order to receive the final payments under its second bailout.
“Time is running out”, warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel, insisting as always that Greece has to meet its commitments. She was speaking in Berlin on Tuesday 31 March after a conference of French and German ministers (see other article). “Today, we can say the situation in Greece is under control. No need to speculate on any plan B. We are focused on plan A”, said European Council President Donald Tusk, speaking from Madrid.
According to the Greek press, the talks with the Brussels Group were interrupted on Tuesday, but the information gathering is continuing in Athens in order to have meat for the talks taking place in Brussels. Addressing the Greek parliament on Monday evening, Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he wanted an honest compromise with the lenders, but not at any price. (Elodie Lamer and Mathieu Bion)