The Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will be visiting Rome on Tuesday, where he will meet his Italian counterpart Mateo Renzi to discuss the possibility of a new agreement, which will emphasize growth over austerity. He will also be accompanied by Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis for talks with his Italian counterpart Pier Carlo Padoan.
Mr. Tsipras is reportedly planning to stress that the reforms he is willing to carry out will aim for fiscal balance and social justice, which will however necessitate some time and fiscal room. He will also explain how the troika essentially curbs growth and investments and that Europe must begin to trust its own institutions and bodies.
The Greek government is optimistic about the Tuesday meeting, after Mr. Renzi explained that he wants to shift the debate from financial policy and austerity to growth and investments, suggesting that there is fertile ground for a productive agreement between the two Prime Ministers.
The Italian PM reportedly spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday to reassure her that he is not planning to lead a so-called Mediterranean Alliance with Greece and Spain. Mr. Renzi is said to have told her that Italy will assume the role of a “moral example” for Greece, by stressing the importance of respecting agreements and continuing with the reforms.
On Wednesday Mr. Tsipras will then travel to Paris, where he has arranged to meet with French President Francois Hollande. The Greek Prime Minister has also arranged to see the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels. It has been suggested that an agreement maybe reached in Brussels so that the negotiations can progress without Athens facing any liquidity issues until the finalization of the new deal, potentially in May.
The Alternate Minister of International Economic Relations Euclid Tsakalotos told Mega Channel that he estimate an agreement with Greece’s partners is “immanent”.
