Wednesday, 9 November 2011

more news from greece

It would appear that no Greek politician will allow himself to be held accountable for Greece's debts. EU demands for written guarantees fell on deaf ears and the caretaker government to be formed by Luca Papademo is shunned by Greece's political parties. From the Kathimerini: [Mr Lucas Papademos] is thought to want to pick some members of the cabinet, which could include politicians from PASOK and ND. With one eye on snap elections next year, the conservatives appear reluctant to commit members to the cabinet. However, the creation of a new cabinet appeared to be put on hold when Samaras objected to demands from Brussels for the ND leader, as well as Papandreou, Bank of Greece Governor Giorgos Provopoulos and the next prime minister and finance minister to sign a commitment to uphold existing agreements, including the new bailout agreed last month. European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said without the signed documents, Greece would not receive the loan installment of 8 billion euros it is expecting. Samaras, under pressure from elements in his party displeased with ND's involvement in the coalition, insisted his verbal commitment should be enough. "There is such a thing as national dignity," he said. "I have repeatedly explained that, in order to protect the Greek economy and the euro, the implementation of the October 26 agreement is inevitable." Interim agreement still in balance With Papademos poised to become PM, Samaras objection to eurozone calls create obstacle http://ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_29426_09/11/2011_413880 Deposits shrink on Greek fears Banks customers withdrew over 5 billion euros in just one month http://ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite2_22503_08/11/2011_413873


Barroso: joining the euro is an obligation

"In principle, all member states of the European Union should be members of the euro. It's an obligation in the treaties! So this debate about having two different entities, the euro area on one side and European Union on the other, is absurd because these are two groupings, or ensembles that should more or less coincide. There are only two countries with opt-outs: Britain and Denmark. All other member states have a legal obligation, legal not political, to join the euro area. So in the future the eruo area and the European Union will be basically the same. But of course I think it'll be a complete mistake, I repeat, to try to put the EU and the euro area as two seperate entities. That would be the beginning of the end for the European Union." Jose Manual Barroso speaking at a public meeting of the European People's Party in Brussels. http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9634000/9634878.stm