Debate during the plenary session of July in Strasbourg on the conclusions of the European Council (25-26 June 2015) and the current situation in Greece. Statements by Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC and Al&eacute;xis TS&Iacute;PRAS, Greek Prime Minister.

debate

plenary session

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

economic situation in Greece (T)

TUSK, Donald (PL)

TSÍPRAS, Aléxis (EL)

European Council meeting 25-26 June 2015 (T)

Conclusions of the European Council (25-26 June 2015) and of the Euro Summit (7 July) and the current situation in Greece: extracts from the statements by the Council, the Commission and Alexis TSIPRAS, Greek Prime Minister

External view of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, "We asked Prime Minister Tsipras to present his government's ideas for sustainable growth and prosperity in Greece. The eurogroup will now consider the detail of Greece's request for a programme under the ESM treaty. Clarifications will be needed in the coming days and these should be provided as quickly as possible." 

SOUNDBITE (English), Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, "All sides of the negotiations share the responsibility for the current status-quo. I call on all leaders to try to find a consensus that can be our common success, with no losers or winners. If this does not happen, it will mean the end of the negotiations with all the possible consequences, including the worst case scenario, where everyone will lose. Our inability to find an agreement may lead to the bankruptacy of Greece and the insolvency of its banking system. And, for sure, it will be most painful for the Greek people. (But) I have no doubt that this will affect Europe, also in the geopolitical sense, if someone has any illusion that it will not be so, they are naive. The reality is that we only have only four days left to find an ultimate agreement ".

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the European Commission, "I want to say this. Having seen the Greek crisis and the numerous breaches in solidarity, that are taking over the agenda in Europe, it will be necessary, whether we agree or with the phases of this programme for deepening the Economic and Monetary Union, that we implement it. The answer to the Greek crisis is not to do nothing. The right answer is to deepen the Economic and Monetary Union, to make it last. Thank you". 

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Al&#233;xis TS&#205;PRAS, Greek Prime Minister, "Let's not forget the fact that, for the past five years, the Greek people has made a tremendous effort for adjustment, a very harsh and difficult process of adjustment, but this has exhausted the resilience and the patience of the Greek people. And this is not just something that has been confined to Greece, other countries have, we respect the sacrifices and efforts that they have made, the difficult decissions that governments in other countries have taken as well. In many European countries, austerity programmes have been put into effect. However nowhere have those programmes been so harsh and so long-lasting as in Greece."

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Al&#233;xis TS&#205;PRAS, Greek Prime Minister, "And today the majority of Greek people, quite appart form our own assesment - this is a simple fact that we need to accept - today the majority of Greek people think that they have no other choice other than to demand that it be given a way out of this impasse and this dead end. And they have expressed this in the most direct, democratic way possible and we have to implement that decission and that mandate. We demand an agreement with our neighbours but one which gives us a sign that we are, on a long lasting basis, exiting from the crisis, which will demonstrate to us that there is light at the end of the tunnel."

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Al&#233;xis TS&#205;PRAS, Greek Prime Minister, "In the next two or three days we have undertaken to bring forward concrete proposals in detail and I'm confident that in the next few days we will be able to meet the obligations of this crucial time in the best interest of Greece and also for the eurozone. And this is not only in the best economic interest but also in the best geopolitical interest of the European Union."

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Al&#233;xis TS&#205;PRAS, Greek Prime Minister, "This is not exclusively a Greek problem this is a European problem and European problems require European solutions. European history is a history of conflict but conflict leading to compromise."