Eurogroup sceptical over 'exceptionally difficult' Greece talks

If anyone thought the Greek finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos might have an easy ride in Brussels given Athens’ belated bending to its creditors’ demands, they might want to think again.

Despite the positive reaction to the latest Greek moves from some creditors, it soon became clear that Saturday afternoon’s meeting of European finance ministers was going to be no push-over.

Even though Athens now agrees to more austerity after the Greek parliament backed Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ proposals to seek a third bailout, some of Europe’s most important decision-makers remain sceptical – with the issue of trust emerging as a key issue.

Germany is Greece’s biggest creditor. Its finance minister said negotiations would be “exceptionally difficult”.

“The problem is that that there was a situation at the end of the year that was very hopeful, despite all the scepticism of previous years, and that this was destroyed in an incredible way in the last months,” Wolfgang Schäuble said.