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| Greek debt talks 'must intensify' | Greek debt talks 'must intensify' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The leaders of Greece, France and Germany have agreed to intensify negotiations with Athens' creditors, but there was little sign of progress. | The leaders of Greece, France and Germany have agreed to intensify negotiations with Athens' creditors, but there was little sign of progress. |
| After late night talks in Brussels, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said all the sides would work to "bridge" remaining differences. | After late night talks in Brussels, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said all the sides would work to "bridge" remaining differences. |
| EU Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said a deal was close but it was now necessary to move to a "happy ending". | |
| Greece faces default at the end of June if it fails to repay €1.5bn to the IMF. | Greece faces default at the end of June if it fails to repay €1.5bn to the IMF. |
| The EU and IMF want further economic reforms before they release €7.2bn (£5.3bn) of bailout funds to Athens. | |
| Earlier this week, Athens submitted a revised reform plan to the EU and IMF, after Mr Tsipras rejected a set of reforms put forward by EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker. | Earlier this week, Athens submitted a revised reform plan to the EU and IMF, after Mr Tsipras rejected a set of reforms put forward by EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker. |
| It is believed Athens has conceded ground on VAT reforms, pensions and the country's primary surplus target. | It is believed Athens has conceded ground on VAT reforms, pensions and the country's primary surplus target. |
| Mr Tsipras is expected to hold further talks with Mr Juncker later on Thursday. | Mr Tsipras is expected to hold further talks with Mr Juncker later on Thursday. |
| Eurozone warning | Eurozone warning |
| "We decided to intensify efforts to resolve the differences that remain and to move towards a solution," the Greek prime minister told reporters after his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande. | "We decided to intensify efforts to resolve the differences that remain and to move towards a solution," the Greek prime minister told reporters after his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande. |
| "The European leaders realised that we must offer a viable solution and the chance for Greece to return to growth," Mr Tsipras added. | "The European leaders realised that we must offer a viable solution and the chance for Greece to return to growth," Mr Tsipras added. |
| Ms Merkel and Mr Hollande left the talks without making public comments, however a German government statement said the three leaders had agreed that the negotiations "must be intensified". | Ms Merkel and Mr Hollande left the talks without making public comments, however a German government statement said the three leaders had agreed that the negotiations "must be intensified". |
| The statement also said the meeting in Brussels was constructive. | The statement also said the meeting in Brussels was constructive. |
| EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici told French radio on Thursday that the talks with Greece had progressed in recent weeks to the extent that "we're now ready for landing". | |
| "I really like Greek tragedy, but I think now we really have to move on to the happy ending." | |
| In his comments, Mr Tsipras indicated he had stuck to his demand for some debt relief for Greece, the BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Brussels reports. | In his comments, Mr Tsipras indicated he had stuck to his demand for some debt relief for Greece, the BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Brussels reports. |
| But European leaders will not countenance writing off debts before Greece commits to reforms. So there appears to have been little achieved and only a few more days for all sides to find a solution, our correspondent adds. | But European leaders will not countenance writing off debts before Greece commits to reforms. So there appears to have been little achieved and only a few more days for all sides to find a solution, our correspondent adds. |
| Last week, Greece "bundled up" a €300m payment to the IMF, delaying the payment until the end of June when a total of €1.5bn is due to be paid. | Last week, Greece "bundled up" a €300m payment to the IMF, delaying the payment until the end of June when a total of €1.5bn is due to be paid. |
| Mr Tsipras has warned earlier that a failure to reach a deal on Greece's bailout by the end of June would be the beginning of the end for the eurozone. | Mr Tsipras has warned earlier that a failure to reach a deal on Greece's bailout by the end of June would be the beginning of the end for the eurozone. |