Outgoing Eurogroup president makes strong support pitch for Greece

European members must help the Greek government in stemming tax revenue loss from capital leaving the country, outgoing Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Thursday in Brussels, and charged countries of the European North with having become arrogant about Greece and forgetting European history.
Addressing the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, Juncker spoke of what had not been achieved during his tenure and of delays in decisions made, but also said that the eurozone was saved from breaking apart in 2012. He spoke in support of the Greek government's measures to prevent capital from fleeing abroad and said that "Germans are pretending as if there is no such issue; governments must collaborate in the best way possible, to help the Greek government uncover this unpatriotic stance of some millionaire and billionaire Greeks. We are not here to take advantage of the austerity policies applied to certain countries."

Juncker warned that despite the progress stability of the eurozone achieved "we are facing a difficult future, problems remain serious and their solution requires strong political courage."

Expressing support of Greece and Greek people, the Eurogroup president said that "For me, the European Union and eurozone would be incomplete without Greece. We have become arrogant. We do not know history. We do not sympathize with those who are not like us, we ignore what the Greek democracy and Greeks have given Europe. I will support this country to the end, I am a friend of Greeks," he said.

Juncker mentioned the "crushing problem" of unemployment among youth, and said the European North and South should collaborate with each other and the former recognize the achievements of the latter in gaining EU membership. "The countries of the North are not more virtuous than those of the South," he said.

SOURCE: ATHENS NEWS AGENCY