Greek political leaders including Antonis Samaras, head of the New Democracy party, must pledge support in writing for Greece’s budget-austerity program for the nation to receive a sixth installment of international aid, the European Commission said.
“A clear and unequivocal commitment in writing by the political forces in Greece” for the austerity plan is needed for the next installment of aid under last year’s 110 billion- euro ($148 billion) package, Amadeu Altafaj, spokesman for the European Union Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn, told reporters today in Brussels. “At this stage, we don’t have it.”
Samaras, whose party is a member of the country’s unity government, has balked at the demand, telling officials from the EU, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank that he has already taken five actions that show his party’s full commitment to the program, the state-run Athens News Agency reported on Nov. 19.
Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos is meeting today in Brussels with EU President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Barroso.
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