Greek "troika" inspectors warn bailout could fail
Berlin - Representatives of the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned Saturday that their bailout measures for Greece could fail unless Athens introduces stricter structural reforms.
"Greece stands at a crossroads. It is clear that the (rescue) programme will not succeed if the authorities do not take the path that entails far stricter structural reforms than the ones we have seen so far," Poul Thomsen, the IMF representative of the so-called "troika" delegation told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag as they wrapped up their latest inspection in the Greek capital.
"It is two steps forward and one step back," Thomsen added.
"The Greek government understands that many of the most difficult changes still lie ahead. At the same time, there is an increase in political and social fatigue," said the native Dane.
Thomsen's counterpart from the European Commission, Matthias Mors of Germany, criticized the slow pace of reform of Greek premier George Papandreou's government.
"The Greeks think it's enough to make laws. But their implementation takes time. And often the necessary structures are missing," Mors told Welt am Sonntag.//DPA
