Austerity and reparations: Merkel and Tsipras agree to disagree
- 9 years ago
Tensions between Athens and Berlin may be high, but Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and German Chancellor Angela Merkel put on a united front following talks on Monday (March 23).
Both leaders agreed on the need to fight the widespread corruption and tax-evasion in Greece and spoke of plans to tackle youth unemployment.
Big structural reforms are needed in Greece, they announced. Such change, combined with a solid Greek budget, would provide the foundations for a return to growth and a rise in employment, they added.
Bailout plan
The Greek bailout plan was on the minds of more than just the politicians – Tsipras entered talks in the German capital amid anti-austerity protests.
The chancellor has consistently taken a hardline stance on Greece’s debt crisis, pushing for the terms of the EU/IMF bailout plan to remain unchanged.
However, it was unclear whether the leaders had reconciled differences on Greece’s planned economic reforms.
“Germany is not responsible for
Both leaders agreed on the need to fight the widespread corruption and tax-evasion in Greece and spoke of plans to tackle youth unemployment.
Big structural reforms are needed in Greece, they announced. Such change, combined with a solid Greek budget, would provide the foundations for a return to growth and a rise in employment, they added.
Bailout plan
The Greek bailout plan was on the minds of more than just the politicians – Tsipras entered talks in the German capital amid anti-austerity protests.
The chancellor has consistently taken a hardline stance on Greece’s debt crisis, pushing for the terms of the EU/IMF bailout plan to remain unchanged.
However, it was unclear whether the leaders had reconciled differences on Greece’s planned economic reforms.
“Germany is not responsible for