Greece's Tsipras says differences remain with EU's Juncker
Tsipras - Juncker - Photo EC
(BRUSSELS) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Thursday differences remained with European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker after a second round of bailout talks in as many days ended without a deal.
"We are working in order to bridge the remaining differences, especially the differences on fiscal and financial issues," Tsipras said at an EU summit, referring to key sticking points in talks aimed at preventing Athens from defaulting.
"And we're working in order to come to an agreement which will assure that Greece will recover with social cohesion and viable public debt," Tsipras added.
A European Commission source said: "President Juncker had an important, friendly and constructive meeting with Prime Minister Tsipras that lasted two hours."
Juncker explained to Tsipras "a possible process with the three institutions that would still allow finding mutually acceptable solutions in time," the source said, referring to the Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank, which jointly oversee Greece's bailout.
Juncker and Tsipras "agreed to stay in close contact over the coming days," the source said.
The agreement to talk further came as the IMF in Washington, Greece's most pro-austerity creditor, warned that a deal was still "well away".