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Greece needs to work harder toward bailout agreement: Juncker

Xinhua, April 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was critical of Greece's willingness to negotiate a solution to its debt crisis during a visit to Vienna Tuesday.

Juncker reiterated his stance of ruling out a Greek exit from the eurozone, but said greater efforts are required in order to be able to conclude talks with the EU.

He added the willingness of the Greek government to talk has increased somewhat, but has not yet reached the necessary "maturity." Additionally he is not satisfied with the outcome of the talks so far, he said.

Regarding his optimism that a "Grexit" will not take place, he said it is his personal view, and that it is more useful to search for a solution than to be occupied with an exit scenario.

Juncker said it is out of the question that Greece be allowed to collapse, but at the same time help cannot come at any cost. One must however take into account that the situation in the country is a humanitarian one, to which one cannot just turn a blind eye, he added. Endit