(VOVworld) – Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Monday he is optimistic about reaching compromise with European partners on Greece’s massive international bailout.

Greece’s PM Alexis Tsipras gives a joint press conference with Austria’s chancellor, Werner Faymann in Vienna on February 9th, 2015. (Photo: Patrick Domingo/AFP/Getty Images)

Tsipras made the statement at a press conference in Vienna ahead of two key meetings of finance ministers of members of the Eurozone and the EU on Greece’s debt deal.

Tsipras said parties involved in the negotiation share a common desire to resolve this crisis and he believes Athens will reach a compromise with the Brussels.

The same day, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said that if Greece wants Berlin’s help there needs to be a programme agreed with creditors, rather than the emergency assistance Athens has called for.

The austerity policy imposed on Greece over the past 5 years in exchange for international aid has caused Greece’s GDP to fall 25% and its public debt now exceeds 180% of the GDP.