PM Tsipras, Chancellor Merkel Express Will to Cooperate

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her willingness to continue cooperation with Greece in a spirit of trust and noted that the extension of the country’s programme should be utilized in the best way possible to compile the list of reforms, according to statements made during a joint press conference with Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras in Berlin on Monday.

"We want Greece to be economically strong, to have growth, to fight unemployment, especially among the young, to implement the necessary structural reforms, to create a functioning public administration etc,” Merkel told journalists, adding that the two sides will discuss how the cooperation between Athens and Berlin will continue in the framework of the Greek-German Partnership and the Task Force. 

The German Chancellor noted the agreement of February 20 is the starting point for negotiations and that institutions need to have economic data from Greece to see which reforms can be implemented. She clarified however that it’s not Germany who will decide, but the Eurozone as a whole. 

"We both want to cooperate in a climate of trust, to be in a position to ask each other difficult questions, but in a spirit of cooperation. We face common challenges. We are determined that the structure of peace which is Europe is a resounding success and it must continue from the next generation,” Merkel added.