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Greece's Papandreou to meet Sarkozy and Van Rompuy | Greece's Papandreou to meet Sarkozy and Van Rompuy |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Greek PM George Papandreou is to hold further talks with European leaders as negotiations continue in Athens on a new instalment of bailout loans. | Greek PM George Papandreou is to hold further talks with European leaders as negotiations continue in Athens on a new instalment of bailout loans. |
He is holding talks with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy in Warsaw before travelling on to Paris to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy. | |
International inspectors are in Athens deciding whether Greece should receive bailout funds of 8bn euros (£6.9bn). | International inspectors are in Athens deciding whether Greece should receive bailout funds of 8bn euros (£6.9bn). |
The talks have triggered angry protests on the streets of the Greek capital. | The talks have triggered angry protests on the streets of the Greek capital. |
The BBC's Chris Morris in Athens says Mr Papandreou is on a charm offensive, trying to convince his European colleagues that Greece can meet the demands imposed upon it by a tough austerity programme. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Athens says Mr Papandreou is on a charm offensive, trying to convince his European colleagues that Greece can meet the demands imposed upon it by a tough austerity programme. |
The unpopular reforms are vital to guarantee international loans aimed at stopping the debt-ridden country from going bankrupt. | The unpopular reforms are vital to guarantee international loans aimed at stopping the debt-ridden country from going bankrupt. |
President Sarkozy said that after his meeting with Mr Papandreou on Friday afternoon he would unveil a Franco-German strategy, but did not give any details. | President Sarkozy said that after his meeting with Mr Papandreou on Friday afternoon he would unveil a Franco-German strategy, but did not give any details. |
Germany and France together represent about half of the 17-nation eurozone's economic output. | Germany and France together represent about half of the 17-nation eurozone's economic output. |
"It is very important that the Franco-German axis can make its voice heard about the concrete application of the decisions taken at the end of July [on a second rescue package for Greece]," Mr Sarkozy said during a visit to Morocco. | "It is very important that the Franco-German axis can make its voice heard about the concrete application of the decisions taken at the end of July [on a second rescue package for Greece]," Mr Sarkozy said during a visit to Morocco. |
Targets missed | Targets missed |
"After seeing the Greek prime minister... I will have an opportunity to say exactly what our strategy is for supporting countries like Greece," he added. | "After seeing the Greek prime minister... I will have an opportunity to say exactly what our strategy is for supporting countries like Greece," he added. |
Since eurozone leaders agreed on a second rescue package for Greece, Athens has fallen behind on its debt reduction targets, raising fears of a Greek default. | Since eurozone leaders agreed on a second rescue package for Greece, Athens has fallen behind on its debt reduction targets, raising fears of a Greek default. |
A vote in Germany's parliament on Thursday to back a more powerful bailout fund for eurozone economies was welcomed in Athens. | |
Mr Sarkozy also congratulated German Chancellor Angela Merkel by telephone on Thursday, his office said, calling the vote a key step in stabilising the eurozone. | Mr Sarkozy also congratulated German Chancellor Angela Merkel by telephone on Thursday, his office said, calling the vote a key step in stabilising the eurozone. |
Mr Papandreou held talks with Chancellor Merkel in Berlin on Tuesday. | Mr Papandreou held talks with Chancellor Merkel in Berlin on Tuesday. |
But our correspondent says some analysts believe the whole strategy for Greece, with a possible second bailout, needs urgent readjustment. | But our correspondent says some analysts believe the whole strategy for Greece, with a possible second bailout, needs urgent readjustment. |
That is partly because contagion from Greece to other eurozone countries is no longer a threat but a dangerous reality, he adds. | That is partly because contagion from Greece to other eurozone countries is no longer a threat but a dangerous reality, he adds. |
Greek taxi drivers held angry protests outside parliament on Thursday on the second day of their 48-hour strike. | |
The drivers are opposed to government reforms that would open their closed-shop profession. | The drivers are opposed to government reforms that would open their closed-shop profession. |
Meanwhile, a second round of talks is being held in Athens between the Greek government and inspectors from the "troika" of international creditors supporting Greece - the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). | |
Many Greeks believe that austerity measures are pushing the country's crippled economy deeper into recession and strangling any chance of growth. | Many Greeks believe that austerity measures are pushing the country's crippled economy deeper into recession and strangling any chance of growth. |