EU short of leadership, says Greek deputy PM
February 23, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A LACK of leadership within the European Union has worsened Greece's financial crisis by failing to calm market fears the country might default on its massive debt load, the Greek deputy prime minister said yesterday.
Theodoros Pangalos said EU leaders were "not up to the scale of the task" in dealing with the crisis.
He spoke as officials from the EU and the International Monetary Fund were due in Athens to begin a rigorous inspection of Greece's public finances.
The EU has given the Greek government a March 16 deadline to show improvements in its budget or face tougher spending cuts.
"I'm of the opinion that today's Europe has no political leadership," Pangalos told Greece's private Skai Television.
Asked about the financial crisis, he added: "The people who are managing the fortunes of Europe were not up to the task."
"I believe if Delors was in change in Europe, Mitterrand in France and Kohl in Germany ... things would not be the same," he said, referring to former EU Commission President Jacques Delors, late President Francois Mitterrand, and former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
Greece's Socialist government has promised to take tougher measures if needed to meet its target for reducing the budget deficit from a projected 12.7 percent last year to 8.7 in 2010 - despite mounting opposition from labor unions, which are planning a general strike tomorrow.
Union protests have already caused fuel shortages. Supply problems eased after customs officials called off a strike late Sunday in the wake of a court decision declaring their protest illegal.
Theodoros Pangalos said EU leaders were "not up to the scale of the task" in dealing with the crisis.
He spoke as officials from the EU and the International Monetary Fund were due in Athens to begin a rigorous inspection of Greece's public finances.
The EU has given the Greek government a March 16 deadline to show improvements in its budget or face tougher spending cuts.
"I'm of the opinion that today's Europe has no political leadership," Pangalos told Greece's private Skai Television.
Asked about the financial crisis, he added: "The people who are managing the fortunes of Europe were not up to the task."
"I believe if Delors was in change in Europe, Mitterrand in France and Kohl in Germany ... things would not be the same," he said, referring to former EU Commission President Jacques Delors, late President Francois Mitterrand, and former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
Greece's Socialist government has promised to take tougher measures if needed to meet its target for reducing the budget deficit from a projected 12.7 percent last year to 8.7 in 2010 - despite mounting opposition from labor unions, which are planning a general strike tomorrow.
Union protests have already caused fuel shortages. Supply problems eased after customs officials called off a strike late Sunday in the wake of a court decision declaring their protest illegal.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
