The EU has pledged €2bn (£1.45bn; $2.15bn) to ease what it calls Greece’s “humanitarian crisis” – echoing a term used by Greece to describe the results of its financial crisis.
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the money would be spent on growth and “social cohesion”.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcomed the move, stressing a common need to tackle the humanitarian crisis.
EU leaders say Greece is due to produce a reform plan to fend off bankruptcy.
Mr Juncker’s announcement came after marathon talks between Greek PM Alexis Tsipras, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other European leaders in Brussels, on the sidelines of an EU summit.
Mr Tsipras needs EU support for reforms to unlock vital funds, avoid possible bankruptcy and a eurozone exit. The leftist leader has pledged to end austerity – but his plans have met resistance from Greece’s EU creditors.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras speaks with the media as he arrives for an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, 19 March 2015 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras needs EU support for reforms to unlock vital funds for his country
Separately, EU leaders at Brussels said they would travel to Tunisia at the end of the month to show their support for the country’s fight against terrorism, after a gun attack at a museum in Tunis killed 23 people, including 20 foreign tourists, many of them from Europe.
EU officials also discussed a response to the growing instability in Libya, and a crisis prompted by the flow of boats carrying migrants from Africa.
‘A good sign’
Speaking in Brussels, Mr Juncker said Greece had a serious social problem.
“Humanitarian crisis it has been called and it is indeed a humanitarian crisis,” he said.
He said the EU would provide Greece with €2bn worth of development funds to boost economic growth, cut youth unemployment and help the poor.
Mr Tsipras said the move was “a good sign”.
“It was recognized that there is a humanitarian crisis in our country and that there must be a common effort against it – because it was not the result of some natural catastrophe.”
The funds promised by the EC are not linked to the international loans that Greece has been discussing with the EU.
To persuade the EU of its credit-worthiness, Greece has announced a series of reforms. But it also wants the EU to agree new terms for the long-term repayment of its debts.
If no agreement is reached, Greece risks being unable to meet its obligations. Within the next two weeks alone, it needs €6bn (£4.3bn; $6.4bn) to pay its creditors.
BBC
