Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited Vienna yesterday at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann for talks ahead of the EU Summit on February 12, where European leaders will discuss the new agreement being proposed by the Greek government at the summit.

Tsipras briefed Faymann on the Greek government's plan to "lift the temporary impasse" as submitted to the country's partners. In joint statements with the Chancellor after their meeting, Tsipras said he was optimistic that an agreement with Greece's partners will be reached, adding: "It is in everyone's interest to reach a mutually beneficial agreement."

He further noted this will involve the implementation of a new four-year programme of reforms and growth, which will be put forward for consultation and will not burden European tax-payers by even one euro. In order for this plan to be achieved, he added, an interim agreement was needed for a bridging programme lasting from the end of the current programme on February 28 until June 1, which would allow Greece the necessary fiscal space and necessary time for reforms for the government to begin implementing its programme.

Faymann emphasised the need to find a mutually beneficial agreement between Greece and its EU partners, that he was in favour of such a bridge-deal and that he would support this position at the upcoming EU summit.