Difficult negotiations to reach an agreement between Greece and the euro area

After the tensions, appeasement. Eurogroup for the third in less than ten days, Greeks and Germans low profile. In Brussels, the finance ministers are trying to wrest a compromise on extending the financing of Greece. A single watchword: trust. "I have no doubt there will be a collegial discussion and I hope that in the end there will be a white smoke" said Yanis Varoufakis, the Greek finance minister.

Berlin also tempers his position. The Greek request is "not sufficient" but must be "the starting point for further discussions": "We are not talking of a single country but throughout Europe, the opportunity to be confidence and strengthen the confidence of people in all European countries in the progress of European integration, "said Wolfgang Schäuble, the German finance minister.

If this fails, no question that Greece leaves the euro zone, France and Germany are in unison on this point: "The only option is to work, we will do that Greece is in the euro, that it be at home, it is well, and the entire euro zone is also to help with Greece, "said Michel Sapin the French Minister of Finance.

An agreement is "possible" says the European Commission but "There is still work to do." The extent to which Athens and Berlin can they make concessions? It will be difficult says the head of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem: "It will take time, there are still reasons for optimism but it is very

complicated. So if you allow I will return to the discussions and I hope to tell you the result in a few hours. "

The current program of aid theoretically ends on 28 February. Failing agreement, Greece risk of being short of money quickly.

Discussions are likely to last very long and there is little chance that agreement is reached this evening said Brussels. If this scenario is confirmed, the holding of a summit of the euro zone is not excluded.