Greek Reporter — Responding to the disappointing Eurogroup outcome on Greece, the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament on Tuesday directed stinging criticism at German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and accused him of behaviour that was contrary to the interests of Europe as a whole.
“With his opposition to any progress on Greece, Schäuble continues to be a problem for Europe” said S&D Group President Gianni Pittella in a tweet on his Twitter site. According to a tweet posted by S&D Group Vice President Udo Bullman, the German finance minister was responsible for “excuses, delay, stalling” and his handling of the Greek issue was “economically dangerous and politically irresponsible.”
S&D Group MEP Pervenche Berès also criticized the outcome and whether this was in the interests of Europe in a post on Twitter: “After so much effort done by Greece, how can debt relief still be refused? European interest must prevail in the Eurogroup.”
Schaeuble was also criticised in the German parliament by opposition SPD party members during a debate on Greek debt relief on Tuesday.
Financial-policy spokesman for the SPD, Johannes Kahrs said “the Minister had made a participation of the International Monetary Fund a condition for the Greek rescue, but now denied the debt relief required by the organization” accusing the finance minister of telling untruths.
“It is important now that the creditors show themselves constructively and stand by the commitments made.” The Greeks had suffered large cuts in pensions for years. “We must acknowledge this achievement” another member of the SPD said.
Schaeuuble emphasized that aid to Greece without the participation of IMF required a new approval of the Bundestag.
“We are not talking about a new program but the implementation of the program agreed in 2015,” Schaeuble said. “At the end of the program, in 2018, we will, if necessary, put in place additional measures that we have defined.”
“It is about one goal – namely to help Greece become competitive,” Schaeuble said, adding Greece was not there yet.
