Jean-Claude Juncker calls for Greek bailout deal in April

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker Friday urged Greek and EU officials to conclude the review of the country’s latest €86 billion bailout package by April 7.

Juncker made the call in a statement Friday amid growing tensions over Greece’s determination to reintroduce collective bargaining into its labor markets.

EU officials oppose Greece’s plans, and the disagreement is threatening to sour this weekend’s Rome summit, which is supposed to signal EU unity following Britain’s decision to exit the bloc.

To express that unity, the remaining 27 EU leaders plan to unveil a Rome Declaration, which reaffirms bloc’s determination to stick together through a series of unifying principles. Saturday’s gathering will mark the 60th anniversary of the EU.

But Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was upset that the document makes no reference to collective bargaining for workers. He expressed his discontent in a letter, which questioned whether “European acquis is valid for all member states without exception, or for all except Greece.”

Juncker refuted Tsipras’ suggestion and insisted that “there is no doubt that the EU social acquis applies to Greece as to any other EU” country.

The Commission president also urged “all actors” partaking in the latest round of bailout talks to reach an “agreement as quickly as possible.”

“The next rendez-vous point should be at the Eurogroup on 7th April,” he said. “Ideally, we should be in a position to present a staff level agreement by then.”

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