Greece debt crisis: Eurozone sets 'final deadline' for new plan

  • Published

The eurozone has given Greece until Thursday to present new proposals to secure a deal with creditors, and has called a full EU summit for Sunday.

The eurozone had expected Greece to submit fresh plans on Tuesday after its voters rejected a deal in a referendum, but no new proposals were tabled.

The European Parliament in Strasbourg is now debating Greece.

European Council President Donald Tusk told MEPs there were only "four days left" to reach agreement.

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras is also addressing the parliament. He was greeted by boos and cheers as he entered the chamber.

On the referendum, he said the Greek people "stood up and were counted - we have to listen to what they said."

But he said detailed proposals were being drawn up to bring about agreement with Greece's partners on resolving the debt crisis.

On Sunday, a meeting of all 28 members of the EU will be held - a day after the new Greek proposals are expected to be discussed by the eurozone finance ministers.

In Brussels, Greece has been given an ultimatum: either there will be a deal or Greece and its banks face the prospect of going bust on Monday, the BBC's Chris Morris reports.

EU Economy Commissioner Pierre Moscovici told the BBC's Today programme that Europe wanted to stop Greece falling out of the euro.

"The Commission does not want a Grexit. Grexit would be a terrible failure and we are fighting to avoid it."

But, first, he said proposals must come from the Greek side.

"They know what they have to do, they know what we expect".

Speaking at a news conference late on Tuesday, Mr Tusk said a Greek bankruptcy and the collapse of the Greek banking system would affect the whole of Europe, and that anyone who thought otherwise was naive.

He said this was now the "most critical moment in the history of the eurozone".

What are the scenarios for Greece?

French President Francois Hollande said: "It's not just the problem of Greece - it's the future of the European Union" that is at stake.

Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he wanted a "socially just and economically viable agreement".

"The process will be fast. It starts in the coming hours with the aim of concluding it by the end of the week, at the latest," he said.

Analysis: Chris Morris, BBC Europe correspondent

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras told his fellow leaders what he wants to achieve in the wake of his victory in the Greek referendum.

The suggestion is that he will agree to many but not all of the demands for reform which have been made by Greece's creditors. Some of them he had previously rejected. But he wants much more in return - a third bailout from the eurozone, some sort of agreement on restructuring his country's huge public debt, and more measures to encourage economic growth.

There is huge pressure on the Greek government because both the state and the banking system in Greece are on the verge of running out of money. But there is also pressure on other eurozone leaders. Mr Tusk said this was perhaps the most critical moment in the history of the single currency and of the EU itself.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the eurozone leaders had had a "serious, candid discussion" in Brussels that "reflected the seriousness of the situation at hand".

She said the leaders "obviously respect the results of the referendum" but added: "As regards the euro, we don't have the sovereignty of just one country to contend with, but of 18. Shared sovereignty, shared responsibility."

Mrs Merkel said Greece needed a new debt programme that would last several years, not a short-term fix.

Crisis countdown: Upcoming dates

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Greek pensioners have struggled to receive payments
  • Thursday 9 July: deadline for Greece to submit proposals
  • Saturday 11 July: eurozone finance ministers meet
  • Sunday 12 July: all 28 members of the European Union meet to decide Greece's fate
  • Monday 20 July: €3bn payment due from Greece to the European Central Bank

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he wanted Greece to remain in the eurozone but that Greece had to "tell us where they are heading" by the end of the week.

And he also issued a warning: "We have a Grexit scenario, prepared in detail." This was a reference to the situation in which Greece would have to exit the currency union.

Greece's banks have been shut since its last international bailout programme expired last Tuesday.

Capital controls have been imposed, with people unable to withdraw more than €60 (£43; $66) a day from cash machines.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has refused to increase emergency lending.

However, Mr Hollande said on Tuesday the ECB would now ensure minimum liquidity for Greece until Sunday.

Are you in Greece? How have you been affected by the debt crisis? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number when emailing us your details.

Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international) or via WhatsApp.

You can also upload here.