Athens Rules Out Presenting New Reforms Plan at Meeting of EU Counterparts

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said that Greece will not present a new reform plan to EU finance chiefs and accused country’s creditors of causing a rift in Europe and humiliating Greece with harsh austerity requirements.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Athens will not present a new reform plan to EU finance chiefs when they meet Thursday ahead of the June bailout deadline, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis told German tabloid Bild Tuesday.

The Varoufakis interview came two days before an important meeting of 19 eurozone finance ministers in Luxembourg to address the Greek crisis. Athens is expected to agree upon a deal with its lenders to avoid a June 30 default on its debt.

When asked if Athens would be ready to present a list of reforms, Varoufakis said: "No — because the eurogroup is not a place to present positions and proposals which have not been previously discussed at a lower level of negotiations."

The Greek finance minister accused his country’s creditors of causing a rift in Europe and humiliating Greece with harsh austerity requirements.

Greece has been told by its three key money lenders – the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund – that it must reinforce the creditors' definition of strict financial discipline, including deep social benefit and pension cuts.

The latest talks between Athens and the trio of international creditors broke down on Sunday after 45 minutes. Greece owes their creditors $270 billion, and has a total national debt estimated to be some $350 billion.