Jeroen Dijsselbloem statement on Greece referendum vote

The 19 heads of state or government will be meeting on Tuesday to discuss the way forward following the “No” vote win in the Greek bailout referendum.

Other European officials took a more optimistic tone, but still said the ball was in Greece’s court.

He further urged European Union leaders to prepare humanitarian aid for the country, because in his words the retired people, those with diseases and children in kindergartens should not be paying the price for the dramatic situation that the government of Greece has brought about.

Since 2010, €184 billion has been dispersed from the Greek Loan Facility and the European Financial Stability Facility, Dombrovskis said.

“To negotiate now the European Commission needs a mandate from the Eurogroup” of eurozone finance miniseters, he said. Trade would seize up, residents would lose access to their savings and Greece’s ability to continue using the euro would fall into serious doubt.

“That’s what we need to focus on”, Dijsselbloem said.

Italy’s foreign minister, Paolo Gentiloni, has called for talks to resume.

Spain’s governing People’s party, which faces a challenge from the insurgent Podemos movement in elections later this year, is treading carefully, as it has used Greece’s plight to justify its own austerity policies.

Prime minister Alexis Tsipras, who has said his negotiating hand has been strengthened following the referendum, has indicated he will submit new proposals at the summit.

A “No” vote will undoubtedly lead to a serious economic meltdown, however a “Yes” will lead to a postponement of the same outcome, accompanied by serious economic austerity.

“Only eight months ago Greece was ready to turn the page”, Dombrovksis said.

He added that hard measures and reforms were “inevitable” and announced that the Eurogroup would reflect on the matter on Tuesday 7 July.