Tusk warns of return to '1968'

"All the recent crises and conflicts (Ukraine, Syria, Libya, the problem of refugees) have highlighted to us what a fragile structure Europe is," Tusk said.

"I have the impression that politicians and intellectuals are bored with the EU and therefore want to question everything, " he went on, adding that the current situation reminded him of 1968, a year of revolutionary fervour across Europe.

"In Europe, we are dealing with widespread dissatisfaction with existing conditions that could quickly turn into a revolutionary mood."

Tusk went on to say that more EU summits this summer would likely be needed to fully resolve the situation in Greece, but added that the outcome of the vote in the Greek parliament (on the first package of reforms) was "grounds for optimism."

"The agreement reached on Monday in Brussels does not weaken the Germans, but also did not strengthen them," Tusk continued.

"That was my goal: I wanted to prevent a situation in which in the end there would be losers and winners. Germany as a strong member of the EU must, of course, spend more, also in financial terms."

Referring to the details of weekend negotiations in Brussels, Tusk revealed that at 7am on Monday German Chncellor Angela Merkel and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had wanted to halt talks. "Tsipras wanted a 24-hour break for consultations in Athens. Merkel wanted a new summit on Wednesday. It would have been the end, " Tusk added. (jh)