Europe must not lose Greece, EIB says

ATHENS - Agence France-Presse

European Investment Bank (EIB) President Werner Hoyer said Europe must not lose Greece, in an interview with a Greek newspaper published yesterday.

“If we lose Greece, we will take European integration back by several decades. We cannot and must not lose them (Greece),” the newly appointed EIB president told Kathimerini newspaper.

“At these difficult times for the Greek people, I want to believe that the aid package approved this week marks better days for the future,” Hoyer added.

Hoyer suggested that exploitation of natural resources in a sustainable way could contribute to enhancing growth and creating jobs. Athens is finalizing a second rescue package worth 237 billion euros with the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and private creditors.

The release of funds by eurozone countries is just waiting for the results of an offer to private investors to write down their holdings of Greek government debt this week.