Juncker: Little chance of a deal today

The Commission president says it is time to stop ‘shooting from the hip.’

STRASBOURG — European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Tuesday that it was up to the Greek government to come forward with new proposals for how to move forward on a bailout package, but downplayed the chances for achieving a deal at a summit later today.

In a speech to the European Parliament plenary session, Juncker said he and other EU leaders should respect the outcome of Sunday’s referendum but took aim at the voting process and said the message from it was unclear.

“We’re told we must respect the people’s vote and I’ll certainly do that,” he said. “The citizens of Greece have spoken and I’d like to understand what they said. A question was put to the Greek people about something which doesn’t exist.”

Added Juncker, “Perhaps you would explain to me in detail what the question was that was put to the Greek people, but maybe that would be too much of a circus.” The comment provoked some shouts of protest from MEPs in the chamber.

Juncker also expressed anger at the Greek government for what he said was inappropriate behavior during the course of negotiations leading up to the referendum. “The Greek delegation walked out of negotiations,” he said. “That was a serious error. You do not walk away from the negotiating table.”

Juncker echoed remarks made earlier by other leaders by saying that the ball is now in Greece’s court on the negotiations, which are set to resume today in Brussels. After first sounding a defiant note about the Greek position, said that it was time for leaders on all sides of the debate to stop “shooting from the hip.”

Said Juncker, “We’re going to meet again this evening, we’re going to talk, we’re going to negotiate, we’re going to turn down the rhetorical volume.”

But he said there was little chance of reaching a deal today.

“There are no simple answers,” Juncker said. “Europe is all about compromise and compromise takes a while to achieve and that’s the job of the European Commission and that’s the job that I’ll continue to do… Now it’s time to get round the table again. That is the obvious course to follow and we have to find a solution. That solution is not going to appear overnight.”

The leader of the European People’s Party, MEP Manfred Weber, who spoke after Juncker, also said the EU was awaiting new proposals from Greece, and added that Europe should provide humanitarian assistance to the country in the coming days.

The remarks were Juncker’s first public statements on the Greek referendum, and came 36 hours after the vote had ended.

The Commission president, who had earlier been outspoken in his support for a yes vote — and harshly critical of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, whom he accused of “betrayal” in the bailout negotiations — spent Sunday night and Monday conferring with other EU leaders and with Greece’s creditors.

EU sources said he wanted to “get an idea of the messaging” before reacting in the immediate aftermath of the vote.

Juncker defended his decision to lay low immediately after the referendum vote, and at one point during the Parliamentary debate he appeared angry at those who suggested he was not doing his job.

“I am texting the Greek prime minister,” Juncker told group presidents and deputies in the hemicycle, after there was murmuring among MEPs about his consulting his phone during the debate. “I am doing my job. All these ridiculous comments ought to stop.”

Juncker also defended the right of EU leaders — himself and Parliament President Martin Schulz — to speak out more generally on the issue. The two had been criticized by some for speeches and interviews they gave before the referendum.

“The European Commission needs to be able to speak its mind,” Juncker said.

In a press conference later Tuesday morning, Schulz played down criticism that he had mishandled communication on Greece, arguing that he had “never” called for Tsipras’ resignation.

“Last week I gave a newspaper interview and I answered questions of what might happen if a majority of Greeks say yes to the referendum,” Schulz said. “I said that I am campaigning for the Greek government to make proposals ASAP, and that I’m in favor of Greece staying in the eurozone.”

The Strasbourg speech prefaces a long day of meetings on the Greek crisis, with the Eurogroup of finance ministers set to gather at 1 pm in Brussels and leaders of eurozone countries holding a dinner summit this evening.

In a statement issued Monday, the Eurogroup announced that it was expecting a new proposal from the Greeks on Tuesday. But it remained unclear whether in fact there would be anything new on the table for ministers this afternoon or for heads of state and government tonight.

The Parliament was scheduled to continue its debate on Greece on Wednesday. Assembly leaders had asked for Tsipras to appear for the debate but on Tuesday a Parliament spokesman said the Greek prime minister would not be able to attend “due to prior arrangements and the ongoing negotiations with partners.”

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