EU Studying National Bank-Eurobank Effect on Greek Debt

European authorities will consider the impact on sovereign finances of the proposed merger between National Bank of Greece SA and Eurobank Ergasias SA, European Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly said today.

Bailly said he could not confirm reports in the Greek media that the so-called troika administering the country’s bailout is blocking or slowing the planned merger between the two banks. In comments to reporters in Brussels, he said the merger would receive extra layers of review linked to Greece’s 130 billion-euro ($168 billion) second bailout.