"No decision on aid to Greece will be taken before October“. The president of the Eurogroup is taking time, Jean-Claude Juncker, who went to Athens today to meet the Greek premier Antonis Samaras. “We await the Troika report – continued Juncker speaking on the Luxembourg television Rtl -, in any case no decision will come before October”. The inspectors from the EU, the ECB and the IMF will arrive in the Greek capital between 5 and 6 September.
The same position was also reaffirmed by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a visit to Moldova, after this morning the German Vice-Chancellor and Economy Minister, the liberal Philipp Roesler, had launched an opening signal against Athens.
Today, in an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Samaras expressly asked for more time to complete the agreed austerity plan in exchange for the latest international aid. “We are asking for a little more breathing space to get the economy going and increase state revenues – said the prime minister -. More time doesn't automatically mean more money."
