Moscovici: “Greece will remain in the euro, there is no plan B” – The Republic

MILAN – No Plan B, “Greece must remain in the euro,” said the EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Pierre Moscovici, but “the meeting Eurogroup yesterday clarified the urgent need to reach a solution, “echoed the president of the 19 finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem sidelines Ecofin underway in Riga. The euro will be released but” is a hypothesis far which shows that the single currency is irreversible “says Economy Minister Italian Pier Carlo Padoan who adds:” I am confident, a solution is at hand. “

Of course, according to Moscovici there is no” plan B “for Greece in case you can not reach an agreement on the reform plan that would allow international partners to complete the program of aid:” Greece must remain in the eurozone. We want it all, the Greek authorities, the institutions, members of the Ecofin Council. There is some irritation here and there because you have to actually accelerate, time pressed: there are commitments to be respected and financial problems. For this reason, yesterday, I would not say that we did pressure, but we have asked the Greek authorities that really go ahead with reforms. It is needed because their commitments are respected, but most people who need it the greek and the Greek economy. “

According to Moscovici,” the discussion was firm and clear, but the message is been heard “in Athens and the commissioner said he was” confident that now the process will resume with more intensity and strength. “In the focus of the European partners is over the finance minister greek Yanis Varoufakis, defined by his colleagues” a time waster, a player Gambling and incompetent “.

To Dijsselbloem that yesterday was a discussion” critical “that should be served to” add extra urgency to the process “underway to reach an agreement on ‘ last tranche of aid to Greece: “It will take a few more days, but April is not finished yet.” However, the Dutch Minister did not hide as between the parties there is “a big difference of positions,” adding that “a need for disbursements overall agreement. “Athens eagerly awaiting the 7.2 billion last tranche of aid, but Europe does not seem willing to give in without a plan of credible reforms.

The time, however, holds: May 12 Athens is called to rimborare one billion euro to the IMF, but the state coffers are virtually empty. Also for this premier Alexis Tsipras has decided to requisition the liquidity of municipal and local authorities to meet the current needs: “We have a liquidity problem because Greece is financing the debt with its resources and instead, by existing agreements, should be refinanced with aid, “said Minister of Finance, Yanis Varoufakis.

Arguments:

Greece

Eurogroup

Ecofin

Starring:

alexis Tsipras

Jeroen Dijsselbloem

Pierre Moscovici

Yanis Varoufakis