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European Leaders Have Reached a Greek Bailout Agreement

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Updated: | Originally published: ;

European Summit Chair Donald Tusk announced Monday morning local time that Eurozone leaders meeting in Brussels had agreed upon a Greek bailout deal and that there would be no ‘Grexit’ for the financially troubled country.

The deal included financial support and ‘serious reforms,’ EU President Donald Tusk said. French President Francois Hollande tweeted out that, “Europe had won.”

“We fought a tough battle. We face difficult decisions,” Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told reporters at a press conference, according to Reuters. He also said that Greece had secured debt restructuring and a 35 billion euro growth package.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Greece will receive some relief, potentially in the form of a ‘longer grace period,’ but that the financially troubled country will not receive a cut in the total level of its debt. Greece will also need continued help from the IMF. “Greece will ask, after the current IMF program expires in spring 2016, for further participation of the IMF,” Merkel told reporters.

Hollande told reporters the Greek parliament will have to convene in the next few hours to vote the new reforms in, the Associated Press says.

According to the AP, a meeting between Merkel, Hollande, Tusk and Tsipras served as a turning point in the negotiations. After European leaders threatened to kick Greece out of the Eurozone, Tsipras was apparently more willing to accept difficult reforms.

Other European leaders confirmed on Twitter that an agreement had been reached.

Witness Scenes from Athens After the Referendum

Supporters of the "No" vote wave Greek flags after the referendum's exit polls at Syntagma square in Athens, Sunday, July 5, 2015.
Supporters of the "No" vote wave Greek flags after the referendum's exit polls at Syntagma square in Athens on July 5, 2015. Emilio Morenatti—AP
People celebrate in front of the Greek parliament as early opinion polls predict a win for "No" campaign, which won with more than 60 percent of the vote.
People celebrate in front of the Greek parliament as early opinion polls predict a win for the "No" campaign in Athens on July 5, 2015.Christopher Furlong—Getty Images
Tens of thousands of Greeks came to the city center of Athens to celebrate the victory of the "No" campaign.
Tens of thousands of Greeks came to the city center to celebrate the victory of the "No" campaign in Athens on July 5, 2015.Michael Debets—Demotix/Corbis
Greek special forces members guard the Parliament in Syntagma Square after the referendum in Athens.
Greek special forces members guard the Parliament in Syntagma Square after the referendum in Athens on July 5, 2015.Armando Babani—EPA
Riot policemen guard an entrance of the parliament as supporters of the No vote celebrate after the results of the referendum at Syntagma Square.
Riot policemen guard an entrance of the parliament as supporters of the No vote celebrate after the results of the referendum in Athens on July 5, 2015.Petr David Josek—AP
"No" supporters celebrate the referendum results on a street in central in Athens.
"No" supporters celebrate the referendum results on a street in central in Athens on July 5, 2015.Alexandros Michailidis—Demotix/Corbis
A masked youth throws a petrol bomb at riot police during minor clashes in central Athens, Greece July 5, 2015. Greeks voted overwhelmingly "No" on Sunday in a historic bailout referendum, partial results showed, defying warnings from across Europe that rejecting new austerity terms for fresh financial aid would set their country on a path out of the euro. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
A masked youth throws a petrol bomb at riot police during minor clashes in central Athens on July 5, 2015. Marko Djurica—Reuters
Riot police detain masked youth during minor clashes in central Athens, Greece early July 6, 2015.
Riot police detaining masked youth during minor clashes in central Athens on July 6, 2015. Marko Djurica—Reuters

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