Germany Urges Swift EU Accession for Western Balkan Countries
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has issued a compelling call for the expedited integration of candidate countries from the Western Balkans into the European Union
Ministers from the Eurozone have started conference telephone talks Saturday evening for the last EUR 9 B tranche of the bailout for financially wrecked Greece.
This week the Greek Parliament approved EUR 28 B worth of austerity cuts and privatization amid massive and violent popular protests against the package.
Eurozone ministers are expected to aggree on the terms of the last installment, which are reported to have been broadly negotiated Friday.
Uncertainty however remains about whether the bailout issued by the EU and IMF will be sufficient for Greece to continue servicing its massive EUR 350 B debt.
Fears that Greece might default on its loans are still rampant, as is the general level of mistrust at the country's public and private finances.
Greek authorities are arguing they will need a second bailout, amounting approximately to the same sum as the current EUR 110 B loan.
At the same time, the Polish government, which Friday took up the rotational presidency of the EU, has voiced worries about the nature of the financial aid issued by the Union.
"Those programs must be clearly seen as a step for economic recovery of the given country. This does not apply fully to the EU plans, so their philosophy must be changed," stated Polish Minister of Finance Jacek Rostowski.
Minister Rostowski has argued that the rescue plans must have clear components contributing to the countrie's economic growth and not only target servicing of debt.
Elsewhere in the EU, worries remain about the financial systems and economies in countries such as Ireland, Portugal, Spain and even Italy, which have seen massive growth in debt.
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