Martin Schultz

The EC stated that political deliberations to take place in Riga on Thursday will not replace the importance of technical negotiations.

The Latvian capital will host European leaders including EC President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Council president Donald Tusk, European Parliament President Martin Schultz, and others.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Tuesday said that Romania has the support of the European Commission and the European Parliament concerning the accession to the Schengen area, however it still has to persuade "one or two member states" which "still have reserves" in this regard.

Photo credit: (c) Angelo BREZOIANU / AGERPRES PHOTO

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras sent an  indirect message to European leaders on “whether they will take the risk of the rise of far-right populist powers in Europe, or respect Democracy”, after his meeting with Pierre Laurent, leader of the European Left party.

European Parliament President Martin Schultz met with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann in Vienna, where the former reiterated that, as a matter of respect, the new Greek government should be given a chance.

He also said the German FinMin’s quick reaction to the proposal was “surprising”. Schulz reiterated that Yanis Varoufakis’ proposal to the EU partners does not lack substance.

An unusually high percentage - over 70 percent - of people support the tough stance adopted by the Alexis Tsipras government toward Greece's creditors.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was traveling to Strasbourg on Tuesday for the launch of the European Union’s High Level Group on Own Resources.