Juncker talks down Greek debt write-off option

Report of a visit by European Commission president-elect Jean-Claude Juncker to Athens to speak with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on the 4 August 2014.

He played down the option of an outright writing off of part of the euro zone loans to Greece to make the country's debt more manageable.

Greece would likely get lower interest rates and an extension of loan maturities rather than outright write-off of debt as part of any new debt relief.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information:Remarks by Jeroen Dijsselbloem at the press conference following the Eurogroup meeting of 7 July 2014 - Eurogroup to release €1 billion bailout tranche to Greece http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-remarks-by-jeroen-dijsselbloem-at-the-press-conference-following-the-eurogroup-meeting-of-7-july-2014-eurogroup-to-release-e1-billion-bailout-tranche-to-greece/

EUObserver, 05.08.14: Juncker praises Greek austerity amid talks to disband troika http://euobserver.com/economic/125187

Imerisia, 05.08.14: Greece should stick to austerity policy (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE148101-Greece-should-stick-to-austerity-policy

Kathimerini, 04.08.14: Juncker plays down debt writeoff, makes Commission portfolio pledge http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_04/08/2014_541921

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