FRANKFURT (MNI) – European member states should be looking for ways
to enhance Greece’s growth prospects, European Commission President
Jose-Manuel Barroso said Tuesday, while also stressing that Greece
should respect its commitments.
In a discussion at the European Policy Centre in Brussels, Barroso
said European member states should “show solidarity with Greece in this
difficult moment and look for possible ways to enhance growth
possibilities for Greece.”
On the wider Eurozone, Barroso also again urged member states to
begin taking concrete steps toward a banking union, which he said could
be done quickly and without changes to EU treaties.
“Let’s start with the banking union. That can be done very
quickly,” Barroso said, adding the EU Commission could have detailed
proposals for banking union ready by the end of the year.
By contrast, Barroso said “the reality is that some member states
are not ready today to accept eurobonds.”
The EU summit this week will give greater insights into the
question, “how fast are member states ready to go” towards deeper
integration, Barroso said.
— Frankfurt bureau: +49 69 720 142; email: ccermak@marketnews.com
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