Germany and the European Commission disagreed today over how financial aid should be provided to Greece, with Berlin saying EU leaders would have to meet to decide the issue and the EU saying that wasn't the case.
The disagreement, if it is not quickly resolved, could delay or at least complicate Athens' access to funds to finance its budget deficit and debt obligations, aggravating the crisis.
A German government spokesman said that if Greece requested financial assistance from members of the euro zone, European leaders would have to meet to activate the aid mechanism, a hurdle that would probably require another EU summit.
Asked about that possibility at a news briefing today, a spokesman for the European Commission said it was not the case, explaining that the Eurogroup - the finance ministers of the 16 euro zone member states - merely had to agree unanimously.
"No. We do not have to organise a big summit here in Brussels. As you saw yesterday, the Eurogroup can activate itself in a very quick, effective ... way," said Amadeu Tardio. "The activation of this programme requires a decision by the Eurogroup by unanimity," he said, indicating that some form of meeting would have to take place, but not a leaders' summit.
Euro zone finance ministers agreed on Sunday on a €30 billion package of three-year loans at interest of about 5 percent, if Greece requests help, with the International Monetary Fund expected to supply an additional €15 billion in the first year.
The agreement of Germany, the EU's largest economy, is fundamental to any aid that may be disbursed to Greece. If Berlin does not like the format or the terms under which any aid is to be distributed, it could easily veto its release.
Greece needs to borrow around 11 billion euros by the end of May to refinance its debt.
"Greece has itself made clear that the point in time of a 'last resort' has not been reached," German government spokesman Christoph Steegmans told a news conference today.
"There is, accordingly, no activation whatsoever of the aid mechanism as determined on March 25th by the euro zone government leaders. An activation requires - as already stipulated in writing on March 25th - an EU council (meeting)," he said.
A Finance Ministry spokesman said Germany would contribute up to €8.4 billion in aid for Greece - the largest national contribution - if the rescue mechanism is activated.
He also said the Bundestag lower house of parliament would address the matter, but did not say what that would involve.
Were aid to be granted, it would be made available through the state-owned bank KfW, and the federal government would guarantee it, the Finance Ministry spokesman said.