According to a source close to the EU, Monday's meeting, which is also expected to include Slovenian Finance Minister Janez Šušteršič, will be very political in nature.
As regards the chances of Greece leaving the eurozone, the official said that he "sees no appetite" for this, "not on the part of Greece nor on the part of the remaining 16 members". European Commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso stressed last Friday that Greece would need to leave if it fails to meet the rules it accepted in exchange for international financial aid. The EU is rejecting new talks on the aid programme.
The other critical issue is Spain, the fourth largest economy in the euro area, which is finding it increasingly difficult to secure credit on international markets and is facing major problems in the banking sector. Also on the agenda are a series of appointments at financial institutions, including of a member of the ECB executive board, with former Slovenian central bank governor and development minister Mitja Gaspari among the three candidates. Notably, the successor of Luxembourg's Jean-Claud Juncker at the helm of the Eurogroup is being sought as well. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble is being mentioned as the most likely candidate.
SOURCE: The Slovenia Times
