Greek debt crisis: Tsipras urges MPs to back bailout plan - live

Graeme Wearden (now) and Nick Fletcher

from on 2015-07-10 21:18 (#DWH4)

Athens has submitted a package of tough spending cuts and tax rises in an attempt to reach a a53.5bn bailout and avoid Grexit.

10.18pm BST

Greek PM @tsipras_eu begins addressing parliament. #Greece pic.twitter.com/KkD53QUWnK

10.08pm BST

The #IMF's report on the greek debt released after the announcement for the referendum says the fin min @tsakalotos pic.twitter.com/WVwDtXe6AP

Euclid Tsakalotos, the new finance minister, introduces the bill.

This isn't going to plan..TSAKALOTOS: Greek proposals better than Juncker's plan. Have recessionary character. Better than before referendum

10.04pm BST

You can watch the debate here:

#Greece FinMin Tsakali^2tos speaking now a- http://t.co/yxfL5nBhKi #GreeceCrisis

9.58pm BST

And they're off! Greek MPs are finally debating the bailout plan. Result, with any luck, in 3 hours.

Here we go. Deputy speaker Alexis Mitropoulos in the chair. Long night ahead. Voted expected at 3am. #Greece pic.twitter.com/dqE6FZ6okN

9.56pm BST

Greece's capital controls will remain in place at least until Monday, and possibly rather longer than that.

So local readers should check out this guide by journalist Omaira Gill on how to keep accessing ATMs as safely and easily as possible:

It's 23:45. Do you know where your nearest ATM is? 10 Tips for Better ATMing http://t.co/1KpHtn8svr #Greece #CAPITALCONTROLS

9.41pm BST

The real opprobrium this evening has been left for former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis whose unexpected take of leave, on such an important occasion, has caused outrage among his fellow MPs.

Accusing the academic-turned-politician of leading Greece to this place - where it has been left staring into the abyss of euro exit, its banks closed, capital controls enforced - the Pasok MP Andreas Loverdos told SKAI TV.

"Yanis Varoufakis was the worst finance minister this country had since the restoration of democracy in 1974. The fact that he has preferred to get on a boat and go to Aegina [the Saronic Gulf island 16 miles north of Athens] for family reasons is totally unacceptable and shows just how superficial he is."

"In fact he makes it clear he supports the government, and if he were present would vote 'yes,'"

9.20pm BST

Skai news reports #Greece parliament vote will happen in roughly 4 hours. 3AM local time.

9.15pm BST

And here's the reason we are facing a long night, from our correspondent in Athens Helena Smith.

It may be the most important vote in recent modern Greek history but the president of the parliament, Zoe Konstantopoulou, has decided its 300 members will have to wait.

A stickler for following the rules, the young Konstantopoulou is insisting that as the bill is being fast-tracked parliament will have to convene on two consecutive days. As lawmakers were waiting for the session to begin, the fiery leftist called a meeting of parliamentary vice presidents to explain the situation. The meeting is still ongoing.

9.10pm BST

It's going to be a late night, guys...

#Greece Parliament debate to begin at 1 minute past midnight so that it's "tomorrow" (for procedural reasons). They are fucking kidding us.

9.07pm BST

It's important to remember that Greece hasn't actually agreed anything with the eurozone.

And there's no guarantee of success this weekend.

"I'm not optimistic,"

"There are too many problems, not enough time, too many people who do not believe the Greeks will deliver their side of the bargain."

8.38pm BST

Another poll has shown that just over 60% of Greeks favour a new bailout programme; coincidentally, the same percentage that voted NO last week.

University of Macedonia poll for @skaigr Remain in the #euro with new MoU 60.5% #Grexit - return to drachma 28% #Greece #eurozone #politics

8.29pm BST

More than half of Greeks fear the impact of leaving the eurozone, according to a poll tonight:

Skai TV poll Grexit risk makes you feel: Fear 55.5% // Hope 16.5% // Nothing 20.5% #Greece pic.twitter.com/m5KeFxSo11

8.26pm BST

Exactly a week ago, tens of thousands of passionate No campaigners packed out Syntagma Square, in a huge demonstration calling for Greece to reject its creditors demands.

It's a different picture tonight:

8.10pm BST

8.02pm BST

The FT has launched an profile of Alexis Tsipras tonight, outlining how a pragmatic leader has morphed into a hardliner, to Brussels' growing annoyance:

Until:

For months, eurozone officials assumed Mr Tsipras was simply attempting to maximise concessions before he struck a deal. But some now believe the brinkmanship has always been a way to exit the binding constraints of the euro while blaming European authorities if Grexit goes wrong.

Alexis Tsipras in 1990: "If you start a struggle, it's very important to know when to stop." http://t.co/F0UNMDpCAQ pic.twitter.com/jMIOQQUr8M

7.58pm BST

I guess we'll find out on Saturday whether Wolfgang Schiuble really wants Grexit, or whether the blame lies elsewhere.....

They bluffed, it was called. Not much more to it.. http://t.co/eRcb9KMZBU "Germany won't spare Greek pain" by Yanis Varoufakis

7.42pm BST

In the Guardian tonight, Yanis Varoufakis argues that German finance minister Wolfgang Schiuble has been leading a cabal of eurozone countries who want Greece kicked out:

That, the former finance minister says, is why they refused to engage with the debt restructuring issue which is vital to Greece's recovery.

After the crisis of 2008/9, Europe didn't know how to respond. Should it prepare the ground for at least one expulsion (that is, Grexit) to strengthen discipline? Or move to a federation? So far it has done neither, its existentialist angst forever rising. Schiuble is convinced that as things stand, he needs a Grexit to clear the air, one way or another. Suddenly, a permanently unsustainable Greek public debt, without which the risk of Grexit would fade, has acquired a new usefulness for Schauble.

What do I mean by that? Based on months of negotiation, my conviction is that the German finance minister wants Greece to be pushed out of the single currency to put the fear of God into the French and have them accept his model of a disciplinarian eurozone.

Germany won't spare Greek pain - it has an interest in breaking us. @yanisvaroufakis writes for the Guardian http://t.co/gN745FACTF

7.31pm BST

After days of putting pressure on Europe, the US government has welcome the news that Greece has submitted new reform plans.

It's not celebrating yet, though.

"We are pleased to see that Greece has taken the step of putting forward a specific proposal, but it's one that their creditors will have to evaluate."

7.14pm BST

Former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has been spied on a boat, heading away from Athens (reminder, he's already showed support for the government's proposal).

Varoufakis spotted on a boat to his holiday home -PHOTOS - http://t.co/0LLHd2MJf6

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6.53pm BST

The actual rally in Athens looks quite peaceful:

From Communist-backed rally outside parliament #Greece pic.twitter.com/44ukS1tfQp

Communist rally outside #Greece parliament, from BBC position. 1st time I saw this from here was June 2011 #dejavu pic.twitter.com/2D44FsIHPx

6.43pm BST

Riot police blocking Antarsya rally in Athens @MakisSinodinos: IIIIIfII III II IIIII^1I I'II...II I^3I^1I II IIIII^1I III IIIIIIII pic.twitter.com/XrwiMkMRyr

6.42pm BST

Riot police have scuffled with protesters at tonight's anti-austerity rally in central Athens:

6.31pm BST

Left Platform's endorsement means Tsipras stays on and implements potential agreement. Now it's up to Tsakalotos to convince the Eurogroup.

6.29pm BST

Greek media are reporting that the Left Platform of Syriza will support the reform plan in tonight's vote, despite their misgivings over piling fresh austerity on Greece.

That raises the chances that Tsipras gets the deal though, without losing his own majority:

Obstacle 1, cleared. Now to the weekend and the creditors. https://t.co/Gv7zF8qn3O

6.21pm BST

Protest dog joins the Athens "no" rally at #syntagma pic.twitter.com/rk7VqVL3Mi

6.18pm BST

More on the rally, from Emma Graham-Harrison in Athens:

Hundreds of marchers at a "no" rally, many carrying the flag of communist trade union PAME are marching though Syntagma square in front of parliament.

"They took the no and made it a yes" said protestor Giorgos Tsolakas, 34.

Protest dog joins the Athens "no" rally at #syntagma pic.twitter.com/rk7VqVL3Mi

6.15pm BST

Meanwhile an anti-austerity rally has been taking place in Athens, as parliament debates the new Greek proposals to its creditors.

5.13pm BST

There are few red lines in the quest to keep Greece in the eurozone for years to come, but nominal debt reduction is one of them, according to Slovakian finance minister Peter Kazimir .

Writing in the Financial Times () he said his government's preference was not to eject any country from the eurozone.

5.00pm BST

Stock markets have moved sharply higher on optimism that Greece's new proposals can form the basis of a deal with its creditors to avoid the country being ejected from the eurozone:

4.46pm BST

More from Tsakalotos courtesy of Nick Malkoutzix, deputy editor of Greek daily Kathimerini:

Tsakalotos says four "legs" to programme: Fiscal, reforms, investment (Juncker) & debt relief #Greece #euro

Tsakalotos suggests that proposal for ESM-ECB debt swap will go ahead as part of third programme #Greece #euro

Tsakalotos says there as "grey areas" that still have to be negotiated, such as monitoring of programme #Greece #euro

Tsakalotos urging MPs to evaluate programme as a "whole," says it is in the spirit of Monday's agreement between party leaders #Greece #euro

4.38pm BST

Greek FinMin Tsakalotos: Greek capital controls can be quickly reversed

4.34pm BST

Here is Greek finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos addressing parliament now:

4.29pm BST

Greek banks have a cushion of around a750m, enough to last until Monday night, a senior Greek banker has told Reuters.

But they will need a10bn to a14bn of fresh capital to keep them afloat, the banker told Reuters, even if a deal is reached with the country's creditors over the weekend.

Bank deposits could run out by Sunday because of outflows. With emergency liquidity assistance from the Eurosystem frozen at a89 billion, we estimate that Greek banks have limited headroom to deal with daily deposit outflows (estimated at between a100-150 million) and will likely exhaust their liquidity resources in the coming days.

Policymakers from the European Central Bank have also hinted that, in the absence of any agreement by Sunday, the ECB may curtail ELA, rather than just keeping it at the current level.

.@OxfordEconomics on Greece: "capital controls are almost certainly here to stay for months, if not years".

4.20pm BST

So it could all get very tight:

#Greece gov't in risk of losing parl majority. They can afford up to 12 No votes. It looks like No votes are now between 6 and 8.

4.04pm BST

However:

Syriza MP @rachelmakri announced Parliament that she will vote against the government's reform proposal. #Greece pic.twitter.com/gUmho4kA34

4.01pm BST

Yanis Varoufakis may not be in parliament for the vote but he has shown his support for his successor Euclid Tsakalotos in tomorrow's Eurogroup meeting:

IIII^1I I II...IIIIIII II3/4IIII^1 III IfII(R)II^1I3/4I IIII I1/4II. III II^1II(R) I1/4II... III IIII^1 IfII IIIIII^1I. IIII II II3/4I^1IIII^3I(R)IfII...I1/4I II IIIIIIIIfI1/4I pic.twitter.com/yOUhhP8hRO

#Varoufakis says he votes in favour of Greek proposal in letter to House Speaker Konstantopoulou https://t.co/QZuCfx4ZKa

3.47pm BST

The YouGov poll also shows that support in Germany for a Grexit is falling. A month ago 59% of Germans wanted Greece to leave the eurozone but that number has now fallen below 50% for the first time since February, and opposition is at a high of 37%.

3.44pm BST

Some interesting results from a YouGov poll on attitudes towards Greece, which shows the British and French much more sympathetic than Germany or the Nordic states.

3.38pm BST

Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite is sounding a cautious note.

Reuters reports her comments to reporters:

It is probably too early to evaluate [the proposals] because they are based on old information and it seems those proposals will really not be enough.

We take the document of proposals as [indicating] Greece's wish to go back to the negotiating table. It's too early to start guessing how the negotiations will end.

3.27pm BST

Here's the formal agenda for Saturday's Eurogroup meeting:

The Eurogroup will discuss the recent request by the Greek authorities for financial assistance from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and their new proposals for a reform agenda.

The European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will present their assessment of risk to financial stability in the euro area, Greece's financing needs and the sustainability of its public debt.

3.19pm BST

Here's a nice chart showing the looming repayments which face Greece. The ECB looks particularly looming:

Here are all the key dates for Greece http://t.co/n1OPoqtM4m pic.twitter.com/uyuLEXOBbF

3.16pm BST

Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the liberal group in the European Parliament who laid into Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday and saw his attack go viral, seems a little more consiliatory now. He tweeted earlier:

New Tsipras' plan contains improvement in the fight against corruption & privileges of different groups #Greekcrisis

Proposals #Greece can lead to deal this weekend. But the real work starts now, towards integration of euro area & a structural debt solution

Greece will have to deliver, but Europe as well ! By creating a treasury & debt management system for a sustainable solution for all

We have created in #Europe a currency Union without a political Union. This is simply not sustainable.

If going viral leads to solutions, we should try it more often in Europe http://t.co/NeMiNXbRta via @POLITICOEurope #GreekCrisis

2.56pm BST

The US and Russia have both been voicing their views on the latest developments in Greece.

US Treasury secretary Jack Lew said both sides needed to rebuild trust, but a deal did appear closer and the position was better than just a couple of days ago. He said it was critical Greece took the difficult steps necessary, including structural reform.

Implying criticism of the European Union's handling of the crisis, he asked at a news conference in the Russian city of Ufa where the EU had been when problems were accumulating in Greece.

2.43pm BST

How do the latest set of Greek proposals differ from those on the table when negotiations were abandoned nearly two weeks ago? Here we take a look at the differences:

2.40pm BST

Yanis Varoufakis will apparently not be at today's vote:

Former FinMin #Varoufakis tweets he will not be present at parliament vote due to family reasons #Greece

2.34pm BST

If a deal to keep Greece in the eurozone fails, and the country leaves the single currency, it would need up to a33bn in transitional funding to help support its economy, according to Open Europe.

Up to a1.84bn of this could come from the UK, which would not go down well with the UK's eurosceptics ahead of a referendum.

Open Europe estimates that, in terms of bare essentials, Greece could need between a18bn and a33bn in transitional funding to help support its economy after Grexit. This would cover things such as certain debt payments, some deficit funding and money to bolster reserves to aid in managing the new currency. It does not include the cost of bank recapitalisation which might be managed via nationalisation. If money was needed for this the cost could jump by tens of billions. Of course, there would be much wider costs to Grexit to both the Eurozone and Greece in terms of economic decline, contagion and Greek default on direct Eurozone exposures.

This money is unlikely to be provided entirely by the Eurozone. Open Europe expects it could be split equally between the Eurozone, the EU and the IMF. The Eurozone could provide funds bilaterally while the EU would utilise either the Balance of Payments assistance facility or the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism. From the UK perspective this could mean underwriting shares of between a1bn and a1.84bn. While the cost of transitional funding should be predominantly shouldered by the Eurozone, there is a geopolitical and humanitarian case on the part of other EU members for helping stabilise Greece and keep it inside the EU. Furthermore, with a default and devaluation there might be more hope of these loans being repaid by Greece.

2.32pm BST

A quick recap.

Greece is inching closer to agreeing a third bailout deal that would avert bankruptcy and preserve its place in the eurozone, but it's not a done deal yet.

We are confronted with crucial decisions.

"We got a mandate to bring a better deal than the ultimatum that the Eurogroup gave us, but certainly not given a mandate to take Greece out of the eurozone.

GREEK MAIN OPPOSITION NEW DEMOCRACY PARTY SAYS AUTHORISES PM TSIPRAS TO REACH A DEAL, TO KEEP COUNTRY IN EURO ZONE - RTRS

"Equities are handsomely positive this morning thanks to Greece delivering what appears to be a more promising set of reforms proposals required to unlock the a53.5bn bailout it needs to secure its future within the Eurozone.

A potential softening of neighbouring (read German) rejection on Greek debt relief after international pressure is also helping as is a second day of gains in China, reversing some of the recent rout.

2.32pm BST

The largest opposition party, New Democracy has declared that it 'authorises" Alexis Tsipras to reach a deal to keep Greece in the euro.

1/2 Niki Kerameus (New Democracy MP) "Now is the time to do everything possible to keep Greece within the Eurozone..." #greferendum #grexit

2/2 Kerameus:"Now is not the time to discuss why Syriza went from promising 12bn in grants to proposing 12bn in austerity measures." #grexit

2.27pm BST

The French ambassador to the US has no doubts about where the credit should go if a compromise is reached by the two sides:

#Greece. France has bern working quietly, these last days, to bridge the differences between both sides.

2.23pm BST

Meanwhile Fitch has said an eventual exit from the eurozone is now the probable outcome for Greece:

[The ratings agency's global head of sovereigns] James McCormack, says the referendum's 'no' vote was a defining moment, providing a substantial boost to the position of the Syriza-led government in its negotiations with creditors. However, Greece may have miscalculated:

"Greece's strong argument in favour of greater accommodation on the part of creditors faces several hurdles that are likely to prove collectively insurmountable. The referendum might have tipped the balance of how other eurozone countries weigh the risks of Greece's continued membership in the common currency area versus its exit, but this may become clear only once the history is written."

2.18pm BST

Greek's banks could run out of deposits by Sunday, according to ratings agency Moody's.

Moody's on Greece: "Bank deposits could run out by Sunday because of outflows. Total Eurosystem funding exceeds sector's private deposits."

2.11pm BST

Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem has said he is waiting for a technical analysis of the latest Greek proposals before commenting on its content (courtesy Reuters).

*DIJSSELBLOEM SAYS INSTITUTIONS TO REPORT ON PROPOSALS TONIGHT

1.55pm BST

Busy, busy as the last ditch talks continue. Here's the Finnish finance minister:

Morning and early afternoon on the phone, non-stop. #Eurogroup in Brussels tomorrow.

1.49pm BST

Artur Fischer, the joint CEO of the Berlin Stock Exchange has just told Kate Connolly in Berlin about the huge domestic consequences a third bailout might have for Merkel.

"She is facing huge internal difficulties that have the potential to end her chancellorship."

"But then it has to be agreed on amongst all the parties and we're looking at another two weeks".

"There are many cultural differences at play here, including the fact that we Germans hate uncertainty. We invent a DIN Norm (or standard) for everything, including chairs, to ensure they will fit under tables, we like that certainty so much. That love of certainty means I always turn up at a meeting on time. So we don't like throwing money at something not knowing where it's going."

1.41pm BST

And here are the five holdouts:

These are the #Syriza MPs who say "no" to the proposal -Leoutsakos, Ntavanelos, Papadogianni, Lapavitsas, Petrakos- http://t.co/DLa48qIpuc

1.40pm BST

Greece's new austerity plan is being discussed at committee level now, and some MPs are unhappy:

* Five hardline leftists in Greek ruling syriza say Greek Eurozone exit preferable to deal with austerity and without debt relief - RTRS

SYRIZA MP Mitropoulos "There have been mistakes on all sides in negotiations. We cannot manage a Grexit" #Greece #euro

1.18pm BST

There is an interesting take in today's Bild as to why US President Barack Obama is taking such an interest in the Greek crisis, apparently calling Merkel and Tsipras on a regular basis, out of fear of the impact on the global economy and even global security that a Grexit might have, writes Kate Connolly in Berlin.

The German tabloid quotes a top German diplomat who explains why the US is so flummoxed over why Greece - which after all has an economy about the size of Tennessee's - is considered such a headache in Europe.

"I offered to my friend Jack Lew (his US counterpart) that we would take Puerto Rico into the Eurozone, if the USA took Greece into the Dollar Union. He thought I was joking".

"It's easy for President Obama to advise us to save Greece. It's the Europeans who have to bear the costs, not the USA."

1.16pm BST

Debt campaigners have been reminding Germany that Greece needs meaningful debt relief:

Last night at German Embassy in London we sent the message to Angela Merkel that @George_Osborne @David_Cameron won't pic.twitter.com/Y0WjjHpCOh

1.09pm BST

The IMF's outgoing chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, has published a defence of the Fund's role in the Greek bailout saga.

It includes a pop at the eurozone for ignoring the need for Greek debt relief:

In a stunning swan song IMF's Olivier Blanchard nails Eurozone's ghastly blunders http://t.co/W27kALK5oT pic.twitter.com/w9bQMvsxXz

12.45pm BST

Slovakia's finance minister isn't convinced (yet, anyway) that Greece's reforms plan is solid enough to deliver a deal:

It seems we have progress on #Greece. It's still not clear whether this will be enough and no further frontloading will be needed #Eurozone

Following latest developments, listening to #Greece govt officials one can wonder how quickly can caterpillar turn into butterfly #Eurozone

12.43pm BST

The view from Latvia has been expressed by prime minister Laimdota Straujuma, speaking on state broadcaster Deutschlankfunk (dlf.de) this morning.

Straujuma said that the Latvian parliament would have to vote on any new bailout. It would be the first time it had been directly involved, as during bailouts 1 and 2, the country was not yet part of the Euro. She told DLF she would have difficulty persuading her parliament to support such a move.

"It will be very hard for me to persuade the parliament. And for the parliament it will be difficult to vote for it, because the average Pension in Latvia is considerably less than in Greece, and if you were to ask the Latvians today whether they are willing to lend money to Greece, you can probably guess what their answer would be."

"Humanitarian aid is another matter. If money is needed for Greek hospitals or for medicines, the Latvians will help. Greece is an EU member, but it's the Greek government that is responsible for what happens".

12.32pm BST

In the Czech Republic, there are deep-seated anxieties that the Greek crisis could unleash old Cold War tensions.

Writing in the leading financial daily, Hospodarsky Noviny, leading commentator Daniel Anyz explains the geopolitical dimensions of the crisis, and the consequences of Grexit.

"(Russian president Vladimir) Putin needs very little imagination to consider what an exit of Greece from the Eurzone would trigger. The feeling of bitterness towards Europe would deepen and Greece would move a step closer towards Russia."

"Would Athens change its view on the sanctions against Russia? Would Greece continue to support Nato military operations? Would it still allow the military ships of its partner countries into its harbours? "A Grexit would play right into Putin's hands. Greece would turn into an extremely problematic European partner with separatist tendencies. Then it'll be even harder to find consensus in Nato on important decisions."

12.25pm BST

Back in Athens, Syriza MPs are arguing that Greece should hunker down, and live to fight another day.

#Greece LaborMin Skourletis: Current balance of power [in Eurozone] makes capitulation inevitable now. We'll reach our aims at a better time

SYRIZA's #Lapavitsas: I was proved right. We cannot handle a Grexit. We need to be prepared, we will face it in the future #Greece

12.06pm BST

Angelique Chrisafis has been speaking to young No voters in Thessaloniki about the latest bailout proposals:

"I think everyone has always known that things were going to be very difficult now and in the coming years. The deal will be very difficult for us, but it's probably the best solution. Better a deal than no deal. I think our only chance is to continue on our road in the eurozone.

The No vote was a way for Greeks to express their feelings to Europe, there's a certain happiness that the No vote has been heard. And it seems there has been an understanding that more should be put on the table for Greece, in the form of debt relief. There has been progress."

"I'm so proud of the No vote, it will be remembered as a key moment in Greek history. I trust Tspiras, even if some people don't."

"We always knew, whatever the referendum result, that it would be difficult whatever happens. We had never forgotten that."

12.01pm BST

Greece's fate will effectively be decided tomorrow, flags up Ian in Brussels:

Saturday's eurozone finance ministers meeting will be decisive in deciding whether negotiations over a third bailout begin, or whether leaders should start planning for Grexit on Sunday.

#greece d-day sat, not sun,agroup decision on whether to open new programme negs. eu official wd be 'astonished' if heads overturned finmins

11.56am BST

Alexis Tsipras's battle against the creditors has ended in ignominy, writes our economics editor Larry Elliott:

Greece now faces a fresh wave of austerity policies - increases in VAT, public sector wage cuts, less generous pensions - that will put the brake on activity. This approach has been tried repeatedly over the past five years and it has failed repeatedly. It will fail again.

Greece is like Sisyphus, the king of Corinth who according to legend angered the gods and was condemned to push an enormous rock to the top of a hill. When Sisyphus neared the summit, the boulder would slip from his grasp and tumble back down to the bottom of the slope, forcing him to start again.

11.46am BST

German Social Democrat MEP Axel Schifer has welcomed the Greek reform list.

He calling it an "important development, because the government as well as the most important opposition parties have agreed on it."

"That is to say, it needs new financial measures that can be paid back over a very very long timeframe."

11.35am BST

A group of pensioners have held a protest outside the Greek finance ministry this morning:

11.30am BST

Tomorrow's eurogroup meeting will be a clash between the countries who are determined to keep Greece in the euro, and those who are (or were) ready to see them leave:

Royal Bank of Scotland have divided up the teams:

Mood has turned: After Athens has submitted proposals, support for #Greece has gained strength. RBS sees deal likely. pic.twitter.com/FUL5LqNQAO

11.16am BST

My colleague Emma Graham-Harrison has rifled through the Greek newspapers, and reports:

#Greece front pages Ta Nea: How can deposits be saved? Agreement foresees a12bn dowry for banks [Draghi with hose] pic.twitter.com/9oBPdpLTJi

"Tsipras has to measure himself against history, to choose a road that will lead either to salvation or tragedy."

11.07am BST

German politicians have been reacting through the morning to the Greek proposals, and all of them are voicing scepticism.

First up this morning on the state broadcaster ZDF's Morgenmagazin programme, was Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, vice president of the European Parliament, and a member of Germany's liberal FDP .

"for example there's nothing in there about the roll of the Orthodox Church, which is after all, the biggest landowner in Greece. There's little about reform of the financial authorities and that is a very decisive question, because whether you set the corporate tax at 26% or 28% is in the end not nearly so important as whether you actually collect it. That is the problem. Several important things are missing in this programme."

"That's precisely the point. That is the core issue here. And it is also the reason why we in the FDP say how can... a Tsipras government that allowed precisely this programme to be rejected by his people with 61%, now stand again in front of the people and credibly say: 'we're doing all of that afterall' and then to credibly stand up on the international stage and say: 'yes, we take 'ownership', as it's called - we'll take that on board as our responsibility and implement it'.

I'm missing the belief that a third bailout is possible."

"He has Frau Merkel and Herr Schiuble precisely where he wants to have them...that might put pressure on them to give in, but I think that cannot possibly happen. A third bailout with a haircut in the Eurozone - that will not solve the Greek problems."

German lawmakers confused as to why Tsipras is now submitting a proposal he once slammed. http://t.co/bOKgGEjZdk pic.twitter.com/LAQ22Zr8uU

11.00am BST

Bild have uploaded a pdf of the Greek proposals, in English.

10.57am BST

Our Europe editor, Ian Traynor, points out that these austerity measures, although tough, are largely what was being demanded by creditors to unlock the final a7bn of Greece's last bailout.

They're could now unlock a three-year aid package instead:

#greece but if it works, @atsipras done well - parlayed 5months lifeline into 3-year 53 bn for same concessions #niceone

10.50am BST

So, what has Alexis Tsipras got for five months of deadlock, angst and the lockdown of his banking sector?

Well, he's managed to get EU officials to take a hard look at Greece's debt mountain, and consider measures to make them sustainable.

Debt sustainability will definitely be on the table of #Eurogroup acc to EU officials #Greece

10.36am BST

Greek MPs are expected to start debating this package of measures this evening, with a vote "very late" tonight:

Greek proposal to lenders & loan request to be examined by Parlt cttee at 3pm w debate to begin at 7pm + vote very late

10.28am BST

As German politicians pore over the Greek proposals, some officials and economists are voicing scepticism about much of the Greek's reform ideas, writes Kate Connolly from Berlin.

Michael Fuchs, deputy parliamentary floor leader of Merkel's Christian Democrats, was quick to raise concerns.

"We have to be very careful because honestly, because I have a little bit of a problem to trust it because what is the difference between Sunday and today?

On Sunday the Greek people voted against these measurements.

"The Greeks are coming closer to the creditors. That was not to be expected after Sunday's referendum. The markets are expecting a successful conclusion, as the appreciation of the Euro and the higher returns of German federal bonds shows".

"Other than a few cosmetic improvements, the Greek government has presented the very same list of reforms which it advised its people to reject just a week ago."

10.22am BST

The Sunday crisis summit might yet be cancelled, reports our Europe editor Ian Traynor.

If, and it's a big if, eurozone finance ministers give the thumbs-up on Saturday.

#greece if agreement sat on new deal, no need for sun summit - eu official

10.20am BST

Newsflash: IMF chief Christine Lagarde, ECB president Mario Draghi, European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem are to discuss the Greek proposals at noon BST.

10.15am BST

This is worrying - industrial output across Greece's factories tumbled by 4% in May.

That suggests the country was falling deeper into recession even before the imposition of capital controls at the end of June.

#Greece | MAY INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION Y/Y: -4.0% V 0.4% PRIOR pic.twitter.com/at56Vi3elO

Toll that Greek crisis is taking on economy evident in 4.0% y/y drop in industrial production in May; manufacturing down 2.7% y/y

10.06am BST

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, president of the eurogroup of finance ministers, received Greece's proposal overnight.

And he has suggested that the eurogroup could take a "major decision" on the Greek crisis on Saturday:

Eurogroup's Dijsselbloem: Could make 'major decision' about Greece at meeting, Saturday. More: http://t.co/WxRMUAdHtG pic.twitter.com/E8I2FEblp6

9.47am BST

An influential Syriza MP, party secretary Dimitris Vitsas, has told Greek TV that he believes Tsipras's party will stay united, if creditors commit to discussing debt relief this autumn.

SYRIZA MP Vitsas "Atmosphere in parliamentary group is fine. We're all working for an agreement" #Greece #euro

SYRIZA MP Vitsas: "We want clear reference to debt relief & a commitment from lenders to begin discussing this from October" #Greece #euro

SYRIZA MP Vitsas tells Skai TV that he's "sure" parliamentary group will remain united #Greece #euro

9.44am BST

Readers with a decent grasp of Greek can read the full proposals here, on the Athens parliament website.

There's an English translation here on Naftemporiki.gr.

9.38am BST

Greek bond yields are tumbling this morning, as investors deduce that Athens is less likely to default on its loans.

Chart of the day: #Greece's 2y yields in free fall as France's Hollande calls Greek proposals serious and credible . pic.twitter.com/mkUfchyPbH

9.35am BST

French president Francois Hollande has also called Greece's proposals "serious and credible", and a sign that Athens is determined to stay in the eurozone.

9.18am BST

Greek parliament to begin debate at committee level at 3pm, BBG reports.

9.18am BST

The French government is urging its fellow eurozone members to support Greece's bailout proposal.

European affairs minister Harlem Desir told Radio Classique this morning that:

"It is a very significant moment for Greece, but also for Europe.

"The proposals which have been put forward are all serious, credible, comprehensive."

8.59am BST

8.52am BST

"Either we'll carry on all together or we will all fall together," Greek PM #Tsipras tells SYRIZA lawmakers #Greece

8.43am BST

Alexis Tsipras has met with MPs from his Syriza coalition in Athens.

"We are confronted with crucial decisions,"

We got a mandate to bring a better deal than the ultimatum that the Eurogroup gave us,but certainly not given a mandate to take Greece out of the eurozone."

"We are all in this together."

Tsipras trying to get backing from his MP's for reform proposals that are tougher than those rejected in last week's referendum.#Greece

TOTALLY CAVED IN --->TSIPRAS TELLS PARLIAMENTARY GROUP HE HAS MANDATE FOR BETTER DEAL, NOT TO TAKE GREECE OUT OF EUROZONE

8.25am BST

Here's the picture across Europe's major stock markets, via Reuters:

In a strange turn of events considering the resounding 'no' cried out by the Greek people to austerity, Tsipras submitted a proposal to creditors on Thursday that contains around a13 billion in cuts and tax rises, a4 billion more than the plan the public rejected.

The concessions this reflects, especially on primary budget surpluses, VAT and pensions (i.e. all the 'red lines'), and the swelling chances of a deal actually being made, is in no doubt the reason behind the robust early gains of the DAX and CAC.

Markets cheer #Greece's bailout plan: Germany's Dax jumps >2% above 11k. pic.twitter.com/1OwEJXtT75

8.19am BST

From VAT rises to defence spending cuts, here's a breakdown of what Greece ahs submitted to:

8.17am BST

Another sign of market confidence: Money is flowing out of German government bonds this morning and into Italian debt.

SG: Mr Market assumes that Greek deal flies (for now). 10y Bund yields jump 8bps while 10y Italian ylds drop by 13bps pic.twitter.com/8gWZEXNmKd

8.13am BST

The euro is rallying this morning too, up over half a cent against the US dollar in early trading.

What difference a day makes: #Euro gains, briefly touches $1.1135, Highest since Jul1 as overnight Greek proposal has rekindled deal hope.

8.10am BST

European stock markets have jumped, as investors hail the news that Alexis Tsipras has submitted a new list of reforms to Greece's creditors.

The French CAC leapt by 2.4%, the German DAX gained 1.6%, and in London the FTSE 100 is up 70 points or 1%.

The Greek public voted against austerity last Sunday, yet what we have seen is a giant step closer towards the Creditors' prior proposal which was subsequently rejected, ironically by Tsipras.

There will be factions within the Greek parliament that simply won't know what Tsipras is playing at, so when the Greek parliament vote on these measures today it is by no means a done deal.

8.02am BST

Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the Greek bailout crisis.

Leonardo Da Vinci once scribbled in his notebook:

It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.

Bill submitted last night authorises Tsipras & Tsakalotos to negotiate with lenders. Has to pass through ctte, then plenary #Greece #euro

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