Tsipras hopes for breakthrough in talks with Merkel, Hollande in Brussels

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is due in Brussels on Wednesday with the key goal of meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of a summit of leaders from European Union and Latin American countries and achieving a political breakthrough to slow-moving negotiations on a reform deal.

Tsipras spoke with Merkel and Hollande by telephone last weekend and his office said they would meet in Brussels on Wednesday. But some European officials raised questions on Tuesday about whether the meeting would take place, citing widespread disappointment with revised proposals submitted to creditors by Athens.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the government sent two supplementary documents to creditors, one proposing how to cover Greece?s fiscal gap and the other suggesting a plan for making the country?s debt sustainable.

The immediate reaction by European officials was rather cool with some saying the documents contained ideas that have been rejected in the past. European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas indicated that the documents were being studied. ?The three institutions are currently assessing these suggestions with diligence and care,? he told reporters in Brussels.

Other European officials expressed different levels of optimism about a possible deal. ?I would say that reaching the agreement within coming days is possible,? EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said. However, he called on Greek authorities to show ?less tactical maneuvering and more work on substance.?

Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem told the Dutch RTL Nieuws TV station, ?I?ve heard a lot of optimism from the Greek side, and it?s an underestimation of the complexity of what?s being asked of them.?