NEWS

Tsipras speaks to Merkel, Hollande, Juncker on eve of summit

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke by telephone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Sunday, just hours before a crucial eurozone leaders’ summit in Brussels, the Greek premier’s office said.

Tsipras presented to his interlocutors Greece’s “proposal for a mutually beneficial agreement that will offer a final solution and not put off tackling the problem,” Tsipras’ office said, adding that the PM briefed ministers on the content of the phone calls during a cabinet meeting on Sunday after which he was to travel to Brussels.

It was not clear what new concessions Greece was offering. According to state television ERT, they include changes to previous proposals regarding value added tax, an increase of Greece’s primary surplus target to 1 percent of gross domestic product for this year, along with pledges to abolish early retirement schemes.

Greece is still seeking a commitment from creditors to debt relief — either through a debt swap or extension of maturities on loans or both — as well as a “growth package,” according to sources.

On Saturday State Minister Alekos Flambouraris told Mega TV the government was considering several concessions, including curbing early retirement schemes and lowering the threshold for taxing corporate profits. “Work is being done to see where we can converge, so we achieve a mutually beneficial solution,” he said.

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