Visit of Alexis TSIPRAS, Greek Prime Minister to the EP in Brussels. Extracts from the press point by Martin SCHULZ, EP President and Alexis TSIPRAS, Greek Prime Minister following their meeting.

Brussels

EU - Greece (T)

meeting

press conference

economic situation in Cyprus (T)

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

TSÍPRAS, Aléxis (EL)

Joint press point by Martin SCHULZ, EP President and Alexis TSIPRAS, Greek Prime Minister: extracts

SOUNDBITE (English) Martin SCHULZ, EP President: "A Prime Minister of Greece traveling around in Europe, meeting governments, meeting the EU institutions today, that's a prime minister fighting for European cooperation and not for Greek separation, and this is a very strong and good signal I support wholeheartedly and I am very optimistic after our meeting of today that both sides are fighting for mutual understanding. The eurogroup countries, the EU as a whole and the new Greek government on the basis of the programme the government has for the next years and got a mandate for the programme; we must find ways for compromise. I find a prime minister who is fighting for his country in the way the Prime Minister is doing offers a dialogue, and the dialogue is the basis for compromises and constructive solutions".

SOUNDBITE (English) Martin SCHULZ, EP President: "Ordinary citizens in Greece paid the bill during the last years and it is now time that those who have money, that those who brought their money out of the country during the years, contribute to the solutions of the problems as well and I think that a government which is running in that direction can count 100% on the support of the EP and I think the EU institutions as a whole. Therefore, once more, the Prime Minister of Greece is highly welcomed in the EP not only today, Prime Minister, whenever you need the dialogue with our Institution. It's a difficult time ahead, we have not yet the necessary solutions but I think that a prime minister who is travelling as you and doing rounds for cooperation and not for separation and this is the right way".

SOUNDBITE (Greek) Alexis TSIPRAS, Greek Prime Minister: "I'm very happy that I'm here in the EP, in an institution of dialogue and cooperation. I feel very comfortable to discuss with martin. We discussed a lot also before I became a Prime Minister. I'm very optimist that we're trying to do our best in order to find a common viable and mutually acceptable solution for our common future. I know very well that the history of the EU is a history of disagreement, but at the end of the day, of compromises, of agreements. We have the willingness to work in this direction, to work in order to find a mutually acceptable agreement and compromise for a common future. We are ready to deliberate. We have our goals, which is to respect the people's sovereignty in Greece and the clear mandate of our people and at the same time we respect the rules of the EU: we want to re-correct this framework, not to smash this framework, and we believe that in this framework we could find a common viable solution for our peoples, for our common perspective. I am very optimist after these discussions that we are in a good way. Of course we don't have already an agreement but we are in the good direction to find a viable agreement".