Statements by Klaus Regling on the cost of supporting Greece

4.4.2012

Question for written answer E-003605/2012
to the Commission
Rule 117
Nikolaos Chountis (GUE/NGL)

In an interview with the magazine Focus, in an evident attempt to calm the general feeling that has developed in German society towards Greece, the German Chief Executive Officer of the EFSF Klaus Regling stated that bailing out Greece has so far not cost a single euro of the German taxpayers’ money and that on the contrary, Germany has benefited from the crisis. He specifically mentioned that on account of the crisis, Germany pays 15 billion less in interest.

What Klaus Regling says confirms the findings of many economists and research institutes, who assert that German and European taxpayers have not been burdened in any way by the economic support packages provided to Greece; on the contrary, they have benefited both from the interest they charge Greece on account of the support packages, the decrease in the cost of borrowing, and the positive effect on exports from a lower euro exchange rate. These statements/remarks come at a time when dangerous nationalistic and petty political reasoning are being transformed into mainstream government policy in countries such as Germany, Holland and Finland, thus generating volatile feelings towards Greece and Greek workers.

Given that remarks such as those of Klaus Regling shed even more light on the truth of the matter and discredit the dangerous nationalistic and populist ideological constructs, will the Commission say:

• —Does it share the views expressed by Klaus Regling, not to mention other economists and researchers that German taxpayers have not lost anything so far from the economic aid packages to Greece, but rather they have even benefited from them?

OJ C 137 E, 16/05/2013