A resolution to the Greek debt crisis has been deferred yet again as European officials began examining the latest proposals from Athens to prevent the country crashing out of the euro.
Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem – who chairs the eurozone group of finance ministers - said the new plan from the left-wing Syriza government had arrived too late for them to be able to consider it properly at what were supposed to be make-or-break talks today.
He said that EU officials would now carry out a detailed scrutiny of the proposals ahead of new talks later this week intended to reach a final agreement to the long-running saga.
"The work can start immediately as far as we are concerned," he said.
"If necessary - and if all goes well, it will be necessary - the euro group will have another meeting later this week to hear from the final outcome of the talks with the Greek authorities."
His announcement meant that the leaders of the 19 eurozone group countries heading to Brussels for an emergency summit tonight were facing the prospect of a wasted journey.
Instead, the focus now shifts to the full EU summit taking place on Thursday and Friday.