EU Barroso: Debt Restructuring No Alterative To Tough Reforms
BRUSSELS (Dow Jones)--Euro-zone members in receipt of bailout funds should face the realities of pushing through unpopular economic reforms as adjusting the country's debt structure is not an option, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Wednesday.
"Debt restructuring could never be an alternative to the admittedly painful reforms that need to be implemented," Barroso said at the Brussels Economic Forum. "I would like to emphasise that for the member state undertaking such a program, such adjustment is necessarily painful."
EU finance ministers gathered here for the last two days, where they unanimously approved a EUR78 billion bailout package for Portugal--and also dismissed the option of debt restructuring for Greece. Still, Eurogroup chairman Jean-Claude Juncker mentioned "reprofiling", which is a voluntary extension of loan maturities, as a possible option, should Greece consistently fail to improve its fiscal position through budget measures. Barroso stressed the country must stay the course, stressing the importance of "consistency."
"To those who serve out the implementation of existing programs, it doesn't help to come every day with new ideas," Barroso said. "Assistance is given subject to implementation of a strict conditionality program by the member state concerned."
The head of the EU's executive arm added that proposals to reform the bloc's economic governance rule should be approved by the EU Parliament and member states when they meet here next month, noting that it would be important to enforce them properly.
"We've now learned, the hard way, that excessive deficits in one member state can damage the euro zone and Europe as a whole," he said.