Tsipras set two conditions in order to agree to proposed heads of EU institutions

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras asked the socialist prime ministers and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to support specific conditions in order to agree to the proposed nominations for the top EU jobs and back a unanimous decision of all 28 leaders at the EU Summit, government sources said on Wednesday.

Tsipras' conditions were:

• A continuation of the same EU policy on Turkey (targeted measures, Cyprus issue, dialogue), North Macedonia and Albania
• That Greece keep the crucial migration portfolio, which is of huge importance for Europe and particularly for Greece, as a major recipient of the migration flows.

According to the same sources, Greece received the necessary assurances from the socialist leaders and Merkel during conversations held on the phone.

Additionally, Tsipras had earlier spoken on the phone with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and they agreed that, regarding the new president of the European Commission, the initial indications from her visits to Greece and Cyprus were largely positive in relation with the two countries' positions and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The socialist leaders informed the Greek prime minster that a consensus for the selection of a progressive candidate to lead the European Commission had proved impossible and spoke with him about possible alternatives in order to avoid a total impasse, finally arriving at a compromise "that averted much more unfavourable proposals", the sources said.