“The Eurogroup's intransigent attitude towards Greece is not only unreasonable, it is not suited to the current situation in the country;” said GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer commenting on last night's Eurogroup decision to extend.the current programme for four months.

She said: “This last-minute compromise gives Greece the much-needed money to avert national bankruptcy for the time being. Finance Minister Schaeuble mostly dominated the talks by taking a very hard line and sticking to the failed austerity dictate up until the very end, although burden-easing is urgently needed to help get the Greek economy back on its feet.”

Gabi Zimmer continued: “If the Greek government wants to push for other conditions and criteria during the negotiations on a new agreement, it will need strong international backing. A broad European movement of all who consider the failed EU crisis policy irresponsible is urgently needed.”

“The Greek government now has some time to work out a reasonable reform programme that does not continue to push the lower and middle class into poverty. It has an opportunity, although a small one,to tackle the humanitarian crisis in the country. It also has time to target corruption and nepotism and to build up a fair and efficient tax system which no longer spares both the wealthy and big corporations. These issues were not addressed by the previous government of Conservatives and Social Democrats,” she concluded.