Former ECB chief blames governments for euro-crisis: ongoing investigation on bailout troikas

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Series Details 14.01.14
Publication Date 14/01/2014
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President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Jean-Claude Trichet, 2003-2011, spoke on the 14 January 2014 at a European Parliament hearing on the role and operations of the Troika (ECB, Commission and IMF) with regard to the euro area programme countries (Cyprus, Greece, Ireland and Portugal).

He blamed EU governments for what he called the 'worst economic crisis since World War II' and said the eurozone was still at risk.

On the 15 January 2014, Austrian centre-right deputy Othmar Karas, member of the MEPs delegation investigating troika's activity, said that the group of international lenders, which set the terms of eurozone bailouts with little or no democratic oversight, should be replaced by an EU system which is accountable to the European Parliament.

On the 29 January 2014, EUObserver suggested that austerity programmes agreed with the troika were in breach of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, according to Andreas Fischer-Lescano, a professor of European law and politics at the University of Bremen who was tasked by the European Trade Union Confederation to look at the legality of so-called memorandums of understanding (MoU) signed between bailed-out countries and their lenders.

EurActiv reported on the 4 February 2014 that divisions within the EU team undertaking this investigation were shown during their visit to Greece, as they clashed with the Greek leftist opposition Syriza party.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://euobserver.com/economic/122721
Related Links
Euronews, 14.01.14: European Parliament probes international troika over eurozone bailouts http://www.euronews.com/2014/01/14/european-parliament-probes-international-troika-over-eurozone-bailouts/
EUObserver, 16.01.14: MEPs call for dismantling of EU bailout 'troika' http://euobserver.com/economic/122738
EurActiv, 16.01.14: Parliament seeks tougher controls on Troika http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/eu-parliament-moves-tougher-cont-news-532814
EUObserver [Review], 17.01.14: Remorseless troikas http://euobserver.com/news/122719
EurActiv [Interview], 17.01.14: Socialist MEP: 'The Troika in its current form must be dismantled' http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/socialist-mep-legal-basis-troika-interview-532823
ESO: Background information: MEP bailout enquiry in Portugal after postponed Greek trip http://www.europeansources.info/record/ongoing-investigation-on-bailout-troikas/
ESO: Background information: Draft Report: Enquiry report on the role and operations of the Troika (ECB, Commission and IMF) with regard to the euro area programme countries, December 2013 http://www.europeansources.info/record/draft-report-enquiry-report-on-the-role-and-operations-of-the-troika-ecb-commission-and-imf-with-regard-to-the-euro-area-programme-countries-december-2013/
Večer, 17.01.14: Troika representatives act as if unimpeachable (via Euro!Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE136727-Troika-representatives-act-as-if-unimpeachable
EUObserver, 29.01.14: Bailout troika 'in breach' of EU human rights laws http://euobserver.com/social/122899
EurActiv, 04.02.14: Athens visit exposes divisions among EU Troika investigators http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/athens-visit-exposes-divisions-e-news-533238

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