Group of Thirty

By Nikos Chrysoloras & Alessandro Speciale

Top level talks were said to be taking place in Berlin on Monday evening to hammer out a proposal that would be presented to Greece as its only realistic chance of avoiding default and safeguarding its membership of the euro.

Greece's deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Dragasakis on Wednesday rejected speculation of a split within the leftist-led government following reports he was unaware of a non-paper issued by Athens before his meeting with ECB chief Mario Draghi.

Greece needs to urgently do much more to present an acceptable plan to gain further EU financing, European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi says.

With the clock ticking on Greek negotiations with the European Union for the release of another 7.2 billion euros bailout funds, Draghi said Greece's framework for bailout financing going ahead is still lacking.

During a press conference in Washington, European Central Bank’s President Mario Draghi stressed on Saturday that Europe is better equipped now to deal with the consequences, if negotiations between Greece and its creditors fail.

“We all want Greece to succeed,” the ECB head said, underlining however that the answer is in the hands of the Greek government.

A woman protesting against European Central Bank policy leapt onto a desk in front of ECB President Mario Draghi on April 15as he spoke at a news conference, disrupting the normally technical presentation before she was carried away.
   

A new letter was sent to Greek banks by ECB president Mario Draghi. The letter contained a strong urging for banks to avoid exposure to Greek public debt. He suggested that not only should banks not participate in Treasure Bills but to also limit this exposure further.

By Jeff Black

Inside the five-month-old union between monetary policy and financial oversight at the European Central Bank, nerves are beginning to fray.

The head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, expressed cautious optimism on Monday that Greece would be able to benefit from ECB money printing and get normal access to central bank funds, but urged Athens to honor its debts.

Much of Greece?s funding requirements and those of its banks are, in the meantime, being met by the ECB.

In a speech in the western province of Bal?kesir on March 15, President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an made yet another controversial remark by stating that he wanted to run Turkey like a corporation.

By Karl Stagno Navarra, Ben Sills & Marcus Bensasson

International Monetary Fund officials told their euro-area colleagues that Greece is the most unhelpful client their organization has dealt with in its 70-year history, according to two people familiar with the talks.