BERLIN (AP) — Giving Greece more time to carry out reforms and spending cuts won't resolve the debt-laden country's problems, Germany's finance minister said Thursday, a day before the Greek prime minister meets Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is seeking to earn his nation more time to complete reforms and hold on to bailout loans — without which Greece would be forced into a chaotic default on its debts and could be forced out of the 17-country eurozone.
Athens has faltered in the speed and effectiveness of implementing the reforms, fuelling impatience among its creditors, notably Germany, which is the single largest contributor to its €240 billion ($300 billion) bailout packages.
Greece's continued access to the bailout packages hinges on a favorable report next month from the so-called "troika" of the country's debt inspectors — the European Union, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Samaras met in Athens on Wednesday with Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs meetings of eurozone finance ministers and is also Luxembourg's prime minister.
[...] in a video message for the launch Thursday of a campaign by 11 German think tanks entitled "I want Europe," she sought to address growing unease among many Germans about the political future of the continent.
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is seeking to earn his nation more time to complete reforms and hold on to bailout loans — without which Greece would be forced into a chaotic default on its debts and could be forced out of the 17-country eurozone.
Athens has faltered in the speed and effectiveness of implementing the reforms, fuelling impatience among its creditors, notably Germany, which is the single largest contributor to its €240 billion ($300 billion) bailout packages.
Greece's continued access to the bailout packages hinges on a favorable report next month from the so-called "troika" of the country's debt inspectors — the European Union, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Samaras met in Athens on Wednesday with Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs meetings of eurozone finance ministers and is also Luxembourg's prime minister.
[...] in a video message for the launch Thursday of a campaign by 11 German think tanks entitled "I want Europe," she sought to address growing unease among many Germans about the political future of the continent.
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