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Merkel backs away from Greek budget control

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Merkel backs away from Greek budget control
Photo: DPA

Chancellor Angela Merkel sought Monday to placate critics of a German proposal to put Greece under the supervision of an EU budget tsar, saying Europe must help Athens enact economic reforms.

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The debate must be on "how Europe can help Greece accomplish the tasks given to it," Merkel said on arrival at an EU summit after Greek officials and some European leaders rejected the proposal.

"But all of this will only work if Greece and other (EU) member states talk about it. This is why I do not want a controversial debate but a discussion that achieves success," she said.

The German suggestion to put Greece under stewardship cast a shadow over the summit which is aimed at sealing a fiscal pact to toughen budget discipline across the EU, finalising a rescue fund and finding ways to counter recession.

The idea that Greece might cede budget control to the EU was contained in a German submission to its eurozone partners first revealed late Friday by the Financial Times and confirmed by European sources.

Under the radical plan, denounced by Greek officials, a commissioner appointed by the 16 other eurozone finance ministers could veto budget decisions made by Athens.

German Economy Minister Philipp Rösler earlier on Monday had backed beefed-up EU monitoring of Greece on Monday.

Rösler, who is also Germany's vice chancellor, told the daily Bild that the European Union should step in to ensure that Greece toes the line of budget austerity as it struggles to emerge from a crippling debt crisis.

"We need more leadership and monitoring in implementing the course of reform (in Greece)," he was quoted as saying. "If the Greeks fail to do this themselves, the leadership and monitoring must come in a stronger way from outside, for example via the EU."

Rösler said that patience in Germany, the paymaster for the eurozone's bailouts, for Greece was wearing thin.

"Time is running out," he said. "There can only be more assistance if the Greek government finally carries out the necessary reforms. The Greeks must finally send a clear message that they mean what they say," he added.

AFP/The Local/mry

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