Members of a Greek solidarity group who took over the European Parliament building in Dublin claimed the action was justified because of the “humiliation Europe has inflicted on Greece”.

Protesters from the Greek Solidarity Committee left the office block on Molesworth Street in Dublin shortly after 4 pm, said a EU Parliament spokesperson.



"It's back to business as usual here."



Speaking to Independent.ie, members of the group said they had decided to occupy the building to highlight “that people’s lives are being sacrificed to save European banks.”

“This is a peaceful protest and one that is being taken in solidarity with the Greek people,” said one of the protesters.



“We’re asking the Irish Government to stand with the Greek government and its people because if anyone in Europe knows how much Greece has suffered, it’s the Irish.

“The EU should be more than its banks. It should be about its people.

“We’re not commodities, we’re not property. We’re human beings.

“This protest is not just about the humiliation suffered by the Greek people but by everyone in Europe."



In a statement released following the protest, the group said that "forcing the Greek government to sign an agreement that is unacceptable to its people and parliament is not the act of democrats."



"Nor is inviting the leaders of Greek opposition to Brussels to subvert a country's elected government."



Condemning the ongoing talks to secure a debt deal for Greece,



The protest comes as Eurozone finance ministers meet to try and secure a crucial debt deal for Greece this afternoon, one that the Greek has yet to backed it.



Greece and its creditors are under intense pressure to secure at least the basis of an agreement ahead of a meeting of European leaders later this afternoon in Brussels.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been given an ultimatum by the IMF to come up with a credible reform plan, saying it would otherwise send its own version to Eurogroup ministers.



At an emergency summit of leaders on Monday, it appeared a deal might be possible after Athens submitted new proposals.



However, the IMF, Athens' chief creditor, rejected them.

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