Germany criticizes Tsipras for EU accusations
Germany has harshly criticized recent comments by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in which he accused Spain and Portugal of trying to undermine his negotiations with the European Union officials.
A spokesman at Germany’s Finance Ministry on Monday described Tsipras' remarks as foul play and against the rules of relations between members of the eurozone.
“In terms of comments this weekend in Athens about Spain and Portugal, I can only say that according to European standards that was a very unusual foul,” Martin Jäger said, adding, “We don't do that in the Eurogroup. It is not the done thing.”
Tsipras (pictured below) on Saturday had said that during his negotiations with Brussels to gain a four-month extension for the country’s bailout program, certain countries "had the character of blackmail," clearly alluding to Spain and Portugal.
“Conservative forces (in Europe) tried to set a trap for us, to drive us into financial asphyxia,” Tsipras had said.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy hit back a day later, saying Tsipras should try to bring his country’s economic situation in order rather than blame other states for his woes.
Both Madrid and Lisbon have officially protested against Tsipras' comments. Much like Greece, the two countries are hugely indebted to the EU and may be trapped in a similar standoff with Germany as the leading EU economic power.
Jäger, however, denied any friction between Berlin and the two countries and said the EU is closely working with Portugal and Spain as two major partners.
“We have a lot of respect for what both countries have achieved in recent years in terms of reforms," he said.
The German parliament on Friday unanimously endorsed a request for an extension of the Greece bailout, as the country has vowed to the eurozone finance ministers that it is serious in implementing financial reforms.
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