Scepticism and optimism greets news of Greek debt deal

Greek newspapers carrying news of the debt relief deal
Greek newspapers carrying news of the debt relief deal
Copyright 
By Mark Armstrong
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below:Copy to clipboardCopied

Athens residents react to the news that European creditors have reached a new deal on Greece's debt repayments

ADVERTISEMENT

The news that European lenders have reached a debt-relief deal with Greece was greeted with cautious optimism by Athens residents who spoke the euronews.

The agreement gives the country a ten-year extension on the repayment of 96 billion euros of bailout loans.

"The creditors said congratulations but this does not mean that the economy is going to recover," said this woman in Athens, "I think several years will pass before we see any effect."

"I don't think the crisis is over," said this man. "The crisis is still here. We have just got a life extension."

This man was a little more optimistic:

"The Economy is like a circle. We have been through a very harsh period. Now I think the most important thing is for our economy to get back to a virtuous circle."

Under the deal, eurozone governments will also give Greece a final cash loan of 15 billion euros so it can at least stay afloat.

"You should not think that these developments will paint reality with a different colour by creating a much more colourful environment. On the other hand, these steps are positive," Panagiotis Petrakis, a professor of finance told euronews.

Share this articleComments

You might also like

EU too severe on Greece over debt crisis, former Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker concedes

Greece repays IMF debt two years ahead of schedule, says finance minister

Angela Merkel in Greece for talks on last visit post-financial crisis