Several media (The WSJE, The Times, El Pais, La Vanguardia) report that the Greek government’s well-received tour of European capitals came to a juddering halt last night when the European Central Bank revoked a waiver that allowed banks to use Greek government debt as collateral for loans.
The WSJE notes that initial positive messages from left-leaning governments in France and Italy had boosted hopes for a deal. But in Frankfurt, where Mr Varoufakis met Mr Draghi, and in Brussels, where Mr Tsipras held talks with European Union leaders, the two received a cooler welcome Wednesday. El País reports that Tsipras was left with a bitter taste, with the three top officials of EU institutions showing a hard tone about his chances to renegotiate Greece’s debts.
La Vanguardia reports that the new Greek government trudged hostile territory for the first time in its tour of Europe. Other media (The FT Europe, France 2, Alpha TV) have a different account of events: Tsipras found a receptive audience during meetings with the heads of the European Commission and Council and President François Hollande. But today he will face an intransigent German finance minister determined to make Athens pay its debts.
France 2 described “warm hugs” between EC President Jean-Claude Juncker and Mr Tsipras. Alpha TV also reports that Mr Juncker welcomed warmly Mr Tsipras. Naftemporiki comments that Jean-Claude Juncker has undertaken the role to bridge the different views between the Greek government and most partners. Meanwhile, SZ’s Daniel Brössler deems Juncker’s welcoming of Tsipras with hugs and fraternal kisses an “irritating image.” This is a chance for him to extend his influence in opposition to Angela Merkel and Mr Juncker reveals himself as a far more difficult partner than his predecessor José Manuel Barroso.
Meanwhile, the Greek Minister of Finance Yanis Varoufakis granted interviews to Die Zeit and Tagesschau. He told Die Zeit that Europe has taken decisions which have worsened the situation in Greece and demanded European governments to “listen to us.” Mr Varoufakis also noted that the most powerful country in Europe must take responsibility, suggesting a “Merkel Plan” compared to the Marshall Plan. He admitted to Tagesschau that “we” are responsible for mistakes, failings and non-implemented reforms in Greece, but not for Europe’s economic deflation.
Mr Varoufakis asked for European help to implement reforms, but Europe must stop “continuously torturing Greece.” And Sigmar Gabriel told Stern that the Greek perception of being a “victim” of both the European Commission and the troika was “simply false,” adding that the country is in reality a “victim of its political and economic elites.” He underlined that there will not be another debt cut as a country “must not be allowed to dump the fiscal repercussions of its political decisions onto other European countries.”© European Union, 2015
