BERLIN (MNI) – German Economics Minister Philipp Roesler on
Thursday strongly reaffirmed his opposition to the introduction of
eurobonds in the Eurozone.
“We do not want eurobonds because we do not want interest rates to
rise dramatically in Germany,” Roesler said in a speech in the lower
house of parliament, the Bundestag. “This would hurt growth in Germany.”
The minister explicitly rejected the proposals by European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso for issuing joint eurobonds,
arguing that this would be to the detriment for the whole of Europe.
“It is hurting Germany, it is hurting Europe because confidence in
the stability of the European Union will be lost,” Roesler said. “We say
‘No’ to eurobonds — this is the signal that is to be sent before the
full parliament.”
Roesler heads the free-market oriented FDP, the junior partner in
the coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right CDU/CSU bloc.
He also holds the post of vice chancellor in the government.
Earlier today, a senior FDP lawmaker said that the liberals would
never accept eurobonds. “Under no circumstances will the FDP agree to
this,” the FDP’s parliamentary speaker on economic affairs, Martin
Lindner, told the German Phoenix public television.
However, the German daily Bild reported Thursday that Merkel’s
coalition no longer categorically rejects the idea of eurobonds.
–Berlin bureau: +49-30-22 62 05 80; email: twidder@marketnews.com
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