Radicova Demands EU's Rehn Apologize for Criticizing Slovak Vote on Greece
Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova
Michele Tantussi/Bloomberg
Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova arrives at the German federal chancellory in Berlin.
Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova arrives at the German federal chancellory in Berlin. Photographer: Michele Tantussi/Bloomberg
Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova demanded an apology from European Union Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn, saying he overstepped his remit by criticizing Slovakia’s refusal to provide aid for Greece.
Rehn was speaking outside his competency because it’s not the place of an EU commissioner to comment on sovereign political matters, Radicova told reporters in Berlin today after talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“I don’t think it’s right that he expressed himself the way he did,” Radicova said.
Rehn and other EU officials criticized Slovakia earlier this month for a decision by the country’s parliament to reject participation in a bailout loan to Greece, saying it was a “breach of commitments” made at EU level. Radicova’s government opposed the aid, arguing poor countries shouldn’t pay for the profligacy of richer peers.
Rehn’s spokesman, Amadeu Altafaj, rebuffed Radicova’s charges, saying the commission “has never made any comments that might be considered lacking respect for the Slovak parliament.”
“The commission noted the vote but regretted that it felt that the commitment entered into by the Slovak government had not been fulfilled,” Altafaj told reporters in Brussels today. “Decisions taken in support of Greece were also taken in the general interest of the euro area and the EU as a whole.”
Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert also upbraided Slovakia on Aug. 12 for its decision not to aid Greece, reminding the country that European Union solidarity is “no one-way street.”
Merkel said today that she’s sure Slovakia will show future “solidarity.” While reiterating that she “regrets” the decision to shun financial assistance for Greece, Merkel said that she’s sure Slovakia will be a “trustworthy partner.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Patrick Donahue in Berlin at pdonahue1@bloomberg.net
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