'Door open to discussions' on Greece: Hollande, Merkel

Paris 

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today the door was open for a return to debt negotiations with Greece, but called on Athens to make detailed proposals.

"The door is open to discussions and it is now up to the government of Alexis Tsipras to make serious, credible proposals so that this willingness to stay in the eurozone can translate into a lasting programme," Hollande said. 

"I stress the fact that time is running out and there is urgency, urgency for Greece and urgency for Europe," he said after meeting Merkel in Paris a day after Greek voters rejected bailout proposals by international lenders.

Merkel echoed Hollande's comments that the door was open to further talks to resolve the debt crisis, but said conditions for a new rescue package "have not yet been met".

"And that is why we are now waiting for very precise proposals from the Greek prime minister, a programme that will allow Greece to return to prosperity," said Merkel.

Ahead of a hastily-arranged eurozone meeting on Tuesday, Hollande said that while in Europe "there is place for solidarity, there is also a balance between responsibility and solidarity which must be our course of action in the coming days."