German chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany won’t divert from its recipe of tighter budgets and economic overhauls in efforts to pull the euro area out of its malaise.
In a speech in Berlin yesterday, she cited the example of Ireland, saying it was “the growth engine of Europe.”
“That shows what reforms in combination with solid finances can do,” Merkel said.
Without mentioning Greece, where EU leaders are struggling to persuade the government to commit to economic reforms, Merkel also lauded euro members such as Spain and Portugal for carrying out such measures in return for European bailout financing.
In contrast with Greece, the nations on Merkel’s list of successes “have gone through very tough programs and earned a bit of breathing space,” she told lawmakers and business officials.
Merkel reaffirmed her stance before euro-area finance ministers meet this week in Riga for talks with Greece. – (Bloomberg)