06/12/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 6 December, the European Commission approved the prolongation of two guarantee schemes, one Greek and the other Polish, for credit institutions until 31 May 2019. The Greek scheme was initially approved in November 2008, available for banks with no capital shortfall. The Commission recalls that the liquidity situation of Greek banks is gradually improving, but considers that the State guarantee, which is targeted, proportionate and limited in time and scope, is necessary. The institution had a similar reasoning with regard to the Polish scheme, which takes the form of State guarantees on the liquidity of several types of solvent credit institutions in Poland. The prolongation of the Greek scheme was last approved in June last year (see EUROPE 12036), and the prolongation of the Polish scheme in July (see EUROPE 12060). (LT)