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| Eurozone ministers not optimistic over Greek debt talks | Eurozone ministers not optimistic over Greek debt talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| European finance ministers are meeting in Brussels amid increasing scepticism that a deal over Greece's debt problems can be reached. | European finance ministers are meeting in Brussels amid increasing scepticism that a deal over Greece's debt problems can be reached. |
| Greece wants to restructure its debt repayments and economic targets. | Greece wants to restructure its debt repayments and economic targets. |
| But the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Union (EU) say there should be no change to the country's €240bn (£178bn) bailout. | But the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Union (EU) say there should be no change to the country's €240bn (£178bn) bailout. |
| A Greek government official said there would be no deal today, according to a report from Reuters. | |
| "Some people's insistence on the Greek government implementing the bailout is unreasonable and cannot be accepted," the official said. | |
| "Those who keep returning to this issue are wasting their time. Under such circumstances, there cannot be a deal today." | |
| German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble had already said he was not optimistic a deal would be reached. | |
| Mr Schaeuble told German radio: "From what I've heard about the technical talks over the weekend, I'm very sceptical, but we get a report today and then we'll see." | Mr Schaeuble told German radio: "From what I've heard about the technical talks over the weekend, I'm very sceptical, but we get a report today and then we'll see." |
| He added Germany did not want Greece to leave the eurozone, but that the new government had to fulfil "the minimum of the claims". | He added Germany did not want Greece to leave the eurozone, but that the new government had to fulfil "the minimum of the claims". |
| "The problem is that Greece has lived beyond its means for a long time and that nobody wants to give Greece money any more without guarantees," Mr Schaeuble said. | "The problem is that Greece has lived beyond its means for a long time and that nobody wants to give Greece money any more without guarantees," Mr Schaeuble said. |
| Arriving at the meeting earlier this afternoon Mr Schaeuble repeated that what he had heard so far had not strengthened his optimism. | Arriving at the meeting earlier this afternoon Mr Schaeuble repeated that what he had heard so far had not strengthened his optimism. |
| "It seems like we have no results so far," he said as he arrived in Brussels. "I'm quite sceptical. The Greek government has not moved, apparently." | "It seems like we have no results so far," he said as he arrived in Brussels. "I'm quite sceptical. The Greek government has not moved, apparently." |
| But French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said European leaders needed to respect the political change in Athens. As he arrived in Brussels he urged the Greeks to extend their current deal to allow time for talks. | But French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said European leaders needed to respect the political change in Athens. As he arrived in Brussels he urged the Greeks to extend their current deal to allow time for talks. |
| 'Difficult negotiations' | 'Difficult negotiations' |
| Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told Germany's Stern magazine at the weekend that his government needed time to carry out reforms and put the mismanagement of the past behind it. | Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told Germany's Stern magazine at the weekend that his government needed time to carry out reforms and put the mismanagement of the past behind it. |
| "I expect difficult negotiations; nevertheless I am full of confidence," he said. "I promise you: Greece will then, in six months' time, be a completely different country." | "I expect difficult negotiations; nevertheless I am full of confidence," he said. "I promise you: Greece will then, in six months' time, be a completely different country." |
| Greece has proposed a new bailout programme that involves a bridging loan to keep the country going for six months and help it repay €7bn (£5.2bn) of maturing bonds. | Greece has proposed a new bailout programme that involves a bridging loan to keep the country going for six months and help it repay €7bn (£5.2bn) of maturing bonds. |
| The second part of the plan would see the county's debt refinanced. Part of this might be through "GDP bonds" - bonds carrying an interest rate linked to economic growth. | The second part of the plan would see the county's debt refinanced. Part of this might be through "GDP bonds" - bonds carrying an interest rate linked to economic growth. |
| Greece also wants to see a reduction in the primary surplus target - the surplus the government must generate (excluding interest payments on debt) - from 3% to 1.49% of GDP. | Greece also wants to see a reduction in the primary surplus target - the surplus the government must generate (excluding interest payments on debt) - from 3% to 1.49% of GDP. |
| In Greece last week, two opinion polls indicated that more than three-quarters of Greeks supported Mr Tsipras's hardline stance. | In Greece last week, two opinion polls indicated that more than three-quarters of Greeks supported Mr Tsipras's hardline stance. |
| According to the polls, 79% of Greeks backed the government's policies and 74% believed its negotiating strategy would succeed. | According to the polls, 79% of Greeks backed the government's policies and 74% believed its negotiating strategy would succeed. |
| Meanwhile, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker held a phone conversation on Sunday with Mr Tsipras at the Greek prime minister's request, an EU official said. | Meanwhile, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker held a phone conversation on Sunday with Mr Tsipras at the Greek prime minister's request, an EU official said. |
| "President Juncker is making a last effort in an extremely difficult situation," the official told Reuters. But they played down hopes of an agreement at Monday's meeting. | "President Juncker is making a last effort in an extremely difficult situation," the official told Reuters. But they played down hopes of an agreement at Monday's meeting. |
| "The best possible outcome for tonight would be an agreement to continue technical discussions and that we will continue to try to find more common ground and then come back to the issues in a few days," said another eurozone official. | "The best possible outcome for tonight would be an agreement to continue technical discussions and that we will continue to try to find more common ground and then come back to the issues in a few days," said another eurozone official. |
| Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has said his country will no longer be treated as a "debt colony" subjected to "the greatest austerity for the most depressed economy". | Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has said his country will no longer be treated as a "debt colony" subjected to "the greatest austerity for the most depressed economy". |
| In an article in the New York Times he wrote: "The lines that we have presented as red will not be crossed". | In an article in the New York Times he wrote: "The lines that we have presented as red will not be crossed". |
| "Our government is not asking our partners for a way out of repaying our debts. | "Our government is not asking our partners for a way out of repaying our debts. |
| "We are asking for a few months of financial stability that will allow us to embark upon the task of reforms that the broad Greek population can own and support, so we can bring back growth and end our inability to pay our dues." | "We are asking for a few months of financial stability that will allow us to embark upon the task of reforms that the broad Greek population can own and support, so we can bring back growth and end our inability to pay our dues." |