奇速英语

欧元区领导在针对希腊的新救援计划上达成一致

After 17 hours of intense negotiations, European leaders agreed early Monday to a deal to rescue Greece from the financial ruin. The announcement in Brussels follows marathon talks through the night by European finance ministers and eurozone leaders aimed at preventing Athens from bankruptcy and exiting the euro currency zone.

European Council President Donald Tusk said the deal was "unanimously reached" by the 19 countries that use the euro currency and that Greece would now be able to "get back on track." European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said "the agreement was hard, it took its time, but it has concluded."

However, the deal is still tentative because the Greek parliament needs to approve it by Wednesday. And other eurozone parliaments also need to vote on the deal, worth about 50 billion euros ($56 billion).

While details were still appearing, in return for the deal Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras must find measures and Athens must also seek additional help from the International Monetary Fund. “We found ourselves before difficult decisions, tough dilemmas. We took the responsibility of the decision in order to stay in the European Union,” Tsipras said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was open to giving Greece some debt relief but would not consider completely writing off Greece's debt burden. Markets across Europe moved higher on the news as investors expressed relief that Greece will avoid an exit from the eurozone but they were held in check that eurozone parliaments are still to give their consent to the deal. Greek banks have been closed for two weeks and cash withdrawals at ATMs restricted to about $66 during the country's financial crisis. It was not clear Monday when they would re-open. "The road will be long, and judging by the negotiations tonight, difficult," Merkel said.