BERLIN (MNI) – The German government reaffirmed Friday that an
activation of the aid program for Greece requires an IMF consolidation
program, and that Eurozone heads of state and government must approve
the request.
“The activation mechanism remains unchanged,” German government
spokesman Christoph Steegmans said at a regular government press
conference.
The Greek government requested on Friday that the aid plan offered
jointly by its Eurozone partners and the IMF be formally activated.
German Finance Ministry spokesman Michael Offer said the “aid
request has not reached us yet, but if it should be the case, the
federal government will be ready to act immediately.”
Nevertheless, Offer then insisted that at least until the end of
May, Greece does not have an acute financing need. Thus, Germany will
not face any time pressure regarding its share of the aid package, he
argued.
Eurozone members have said they will provide up to E30 billion in
bilateral loans for Greece this year in a joint program with the IMF.
Germany’s share would amount to up to E8.4 billion. German Finance
Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Wednesday that most experts
estimated the likely IMF contribution at between E10 billion and E15
billion.
Earlier today, Germany’s main opposition party, the center-left
SPD, said it was willing to support the government in eventual financial
aid for Greece if the government informs parliament quickly and gives it
enough time to deliberate.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU-FDP coalition government
is dependent on the opposition parties if it wants to get an aid bill
quickly through parliament.
–Berlin bureau: +49-30-22 62 05 80; email: twidder@marketnews.com
[TOPICS: MT$$$$,M$$FX$,M$X$$$,M$$CR$,MGX$$$,M$G$$$,MFX$$$]
