Juncker called for the understanding Greece – Liberation

The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker called “everyone” within the EU, to understand the gravity of the social situation in Greece, in an interview the German newspaper Die Welt to appear Sunday.

“We must be careful that the situation does not continue to deteriorate in Greece. What worries me is that everyone has not understood within the European Union, the seriousness of the situation in Greece, “said Mr Juncker.

The Luxembourg did not specify if it was one or more Member States or whether he was referring to one of the EU institutions, two days after the very strong speech held by the European Central Bank in respect Athens.

Jean-Claude Juncker recalled that a quarter of Greeks are deprived of social security, unemployment is the “highest” especially among young people and that the country has regular events.

While Greek officials will return their case with their European partners next week, Juncker has again ruled out any output of Athens in the euro zone, calling such a scenario “of loss of reputation irreparable “for the single currency.

He urged Greece parallel to” respect the reforms agreed with the creditors. ” “If the government wants to spend more money, it must compensate by savings or additional revenue,” said the head of the EU executive.

“After July”, when the obligations Greek held by the European Central Bank will mature, it will “consider how international creditors should behave with countries that are in a critical economic situation,” he ruled.

According to Mr Juncker, the negotiations on assistance programs need not be less demanding, but they must be “more political”. “It is not acceptable that a prime minister must negotiate reforms with officials. One is elected, the others are not, “said he said.

The head of the Commission has not directly addressed the meeting on Monday of euro zone ministers (Eurogroup ) in Brussels, nor has it specified the date of its next meeting with Greek Prime Minister expected in the next two weeks.

Alexis Tsipras had requested this meeting in the wake speech Thursday Mario Draghi, the president of the ECB, which had conditioned any additional aid to Greece to achieve rapid reforms promised by Athens.

The ECB has the power to “strangle” the Greece was alarmed Mr. Tsipras in an interview published Saturday by the German weekly Der Spiegel. If the monetary institution does not restore full funding capacity of Greek banks, “so we’re going back to the thriller before February 20,” when his government has agreed with its European partners, after tough negotiations on the continuation of assistance to the country international program.

AFP