Euro-area finance chiefs tempered optimism that a deal on Greece was in the offing, saying expectations of a breakthrough were inflated amid confusion over new proposals intended to unlock aid.<\/p>\n
With markets surging on speculation an accord was near, ministers closed ranks to douse hopes of an imminent deal as they arrived for a meeting in Brussels on Monday. Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said it was “impossible to have a final assessment” of the Greek proposals since they had arrived so late, while his Irish counterpart, Michael Noonan, said he expected ministers to have to meet again on Thursday.<\/p>\n
“I think this day is going to be a non-entity,” Finnish Finance Minister Alexander Stubb told reporters waiting in the pouring rain. “This seems to be a little bit of a Monday where we have wasted a lot of air miles both on the finance ministers’ side and on the prime ministers’ side, because I don’t foresee a breakthrough today.”<\/p>\n