Taoiseach Enda Kenny has made it clear that his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras will have to accept “certain constraints” in his dealings with EU leaders as they seek to settle the country’s precarious financial situation.
As he arrived at the EU summit in Brussels this afternoon, Mr Kenny said he and other leaders wanted to hear Mr Tsipras’ view of the way forward for the country.
Mr Kenny was seen chatting with the Greek prime minister as EU leaders gathered for the formal summit photograph at the outset of the talks, which have now begun.
“The European Council is willing to work with the Greek government within certain constraints to work out opportunities for the government of Greece and the people of Greece,” Mr Kenny told reporters.
“It’s important to hear from the prime minister himself: What does he want for his country?
“How does he see the options that are open from the European council to work with the European institutions to assist Greece in meeting the challenges that it faces and the difficulties that lie up ahead?”
A meeting of euro zone finance ministers ended in disarray early this morning after Greek minister Yanis Varoufakis declined to endorse a joint statement plotting a course for talks in coming days between Greece and its euro zone creditors.
Mr Varoufakis is said to have been in minority of one as the 18 other finance ministers in the euro zone pressed him to accept talks on a continuation of the programme, something he refused to do.
Greece has been seeking bridging loans from Europe but other member states said the only path forward is to prolong the current scheme.
The situation is increasingly urgent as Mr Tsipras has been refusing to agree on talks to prolong the current EU/IMF programme for Greece, which expires at the end the month.
The absence of agreement has already led the European Central Bank to withdraw some support for Greek banks and there would doubt over the continuation of the remaining ECB support if no deal is reached by the beginning of March.
“The minsters had a meeting at some length yesterday evening - and obviously that didn’t conclude in the way that people might have thought. So that’s why it’s important that now we can listen to the prime minister himself and hear what it is that he has to say,” Mr Kenny said.
“Obviously every country has its own view on this and they’ve got their own difficulties. But as a council, everybody wants to work together in the interests of the community and Greece is among that.”
Asked about Greek overtures to Russia amid the uncertainty over European funding for the country, Mr Kenny said that was why it was important to hear from the Greek leader himself.
The Taoiseach had nothing to say on the question of whether Mr Tsipras had over-promised to Greeks during his election campaign.
“I wouldn’t comment upon the politics of any election from another prime minister,” Mr Kenny said.
“The situation now is that the European Council want to work with Greece and that’s why this is a real opportunity to hear and listen and listen to the prime minster to see what it is he has to say.”
