“Intensive work continues at all levels toward an agreement to successfully conclude the current adjustment programme,” said European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas.

“This is a first discussion, not a concluding one ... This is the moment for the negotiations to concentrate on the essential. The essential is the remaining few issues where there are still differences.”

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the eurozone’s finance ministers was invited to tonight’s meeting, but it is being reported that Tsipras is not happy.

Representatives of the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund will also be turning up at the crunch meeting to present their economic reform plans for cash-strapped Greece. These will include a series of austerity measures, which are needed to help the country reach a deal that would finally unlock the desperately needed €7.2bn loan. Athens remains in a four-month standoff with international creditors over the release of this bailout fund.

A total of €1.6bn must be repaid by Greece to the IMF this month, with the first instalment of €300m due this Friday.