Statement by GUE/NGL President, Gabi Zimmer

As president of the GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament, I call on the political leaders of the EU to use this momentum and to act at this historical moment for our Union.

It is today that our heads of state need to take their responsibilities.

This is not the time for ideological battles or making threats of destabilisation through our common currency.

We have to give the Greek people the time to freely decide about the mandate in the on-going negotiation process by extending the current programme for a short period of time.

Next Monday and independently of the outcome of the referendum, negotiations should go on with the inclusion of a debt relief plan accompanied by a genuine growth package.

Not acting now means a violation of our fundamental European values and taking an irresponsible risk with severe consequences for the whole of the European Union.

Therefore, a viable staff-level agreement has to be reached now and a clear commitment for the restructuring or re-profiling of the debt has to be expressed.