Greece and its euro-zone partners: why two sides that say they agree can’t find their way to cooperate effectively

The European Union is built on structures of economic co-operation, yet the sovereign debt crisis is testing to the limit its ability to avert a financial disaster. In the current Greek imbroglio, both Athens and its euro-zone partners seem unable to achieve their aims and are finding it impossible to convince the markets they have found a way out. Given both sides proclaimed a Greek default (and possibly an exit from the euro-zone) is what they wished to avoid, how come they haven’t been able to cooperate and secure their shared goal?