Eurozone 'can weather' effects from Greece: Commission
(BRUSSELS) - The eurozone can "weather" the effects of the debt crisis in Greece because of steps taken in recent years to make it stronger, the European Commission Vice-President for the euro Valdis Dombrovskis said Wednesday.
"Whatever the course of events in Greece take, I am convinced the EU Economic and Monetary Union will be able to weather them," the former Latvian prime minister told a news conference in Brussels.
Dombrovskis however said he believed a deal with Greece was still reachable "before next payments that are due", including a July 20 payment to the European Central Bank of 3.5 billion euros ($3.9 billion).
"We are in a new situation where we need a discussion on a new programme," he said, confirming that Greece had made an offer for a third bailout rescue to last two years.
"(We are) still willing to reach an agreement, still willing to help Greece in this extremely complicated situation," he said.