Roesler insists on EU commissioner for Greece

Germany’s Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor Philip Roesler insisted in comments published on Friday that the European Union appoint a commissioner to oversee the implementation of reforms in debt-ridden states such as Greece.

“My wish would be that the EU Commission appoint a reconstruction commissioner,» Roesler told the German business daily Handelsblatt, noting that such an official would be “primarily responsible for growth impulses and the implementation of reforms.”

“I can’t understand why the Greek side is opposed to this proposal,» Roesler added, a reference to the repeated rejection of such an eventuality by Greek officials including Prime Minister Lucas Papademos who on Wednesday insisted that Greece alone bears the responsibility for the reforms it has pledged to foreign creditors. «I sometimes get the impression that the Greek people are fully aware of the sacrifices being asked of them, but that the elite in Greece don’t want to forego their privileges,” Roesler was quoted as saying.

The minister’s appeal echoed a similar demand by Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker.

Ekathimerini.com