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Roundup: European Parliament voice support for debt relief for Greece

Xinhua, May 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on Tuesday voiced support for Greek debt relief, two weeks before a crucial summit on the future of Greece within the euro area.

In a debate with Pierre Moscovici, the European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, MEPs questioned the effectiveness of Greece's economic adjustment programs thus far. Greece and its creditors must agree a third rescue package before May 24.

Moscovici said Monday's Eurogroup meeting in Brussels made "great progress but we have not yet crossed the finishing line."

MEPs, citing a study published by German business newspaper Handelsblatt, said 95 percent of aid to Greece went to creditors. Notis Marias, of the center-right European Conservatives and Reformists, protested against what he saw as "rogue debt" and a policy that is "bleeding Greece white."

His opponent, far-left MEP Dimitro Papadimoulis, said "the EU should fulfill its commitments."

However, German MEP Manfred Weber from the center-right European People's Party, said there was no alternative to austerity.

Weber said the funds requested by Greece would ultimately be charged against the incomes of other EU taxpayers.

"Those who have benefited from the debt agreement with Greece are not paying their share of the burden," the leader of the Greens, Philippe Lamberts, told Moscovici. Endit