Brussels, 23/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Greek crisis and migration were the focus of the summit meeting of European Liberal leaders held in Brussels on Thursday 23 June, just before the European Council began. With regard to the Greek debt crisis, European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn said he was confident that a memorandum would be finalised on Friday 24 June establishing a detailed diagnostic of the situation in Greece and setting out the budgetary targets to be achieved in the medium term. It is on this basis that the Greek government is finalising austerity measures and the programme that the national parliament is called upon to approve at the end of June. If such is the case, the payment of a fifth loan instalment to Greece (€12 billion) by the EU and the IMF would be considerably facilitated, he added. However, for that to happen, it is “essential” to have consensus between the Greek parties. The commissioner said the Greek political parties must reach consensus, as is the case in Ireland and Portugal, if they want Europe to bail Greece out. In addition to aid from the public sector, the commissioner confirmed the EU's resolve to include a voluntary Greek debt rollover scheme for private creditors who would have the possibility to buy up Greek bonds that have reached maturity. Decentralised talks are underway on such a solution.
The subject of migration was tackled by Cecilia Malmström, Home Affairs Commissioner. She expressed the hope that the European Council would give a clear mandate to the Commission in order to continue discussion on partnerships for mobility with the states of North Africa. According to the commissioner, these partnerships are essential as they include all aspects of migration, including the fight against trafficking and illegal immigration. She also hopes the European Council will provide the Commission and Schengen Convention signatory governments with an opportunity to identify and assess certain failings of the Schengen Area, with a view to seeking adequate answers to address these problems, for example through Frontex reinforcement. The decision to suspend the Schengen rules, she said, cannot be taken unilaterally. (J.K./M.B./transl.jl)