Merkel says Europe can't put principles aside temporarily
[BERLIN] German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe can't throw aside its principles after aid talks with Greece broke down, though she said she remains open to finding a compromise.
"If the euro fails, Europe will fail," Ms Merkel told a party meeting marking the 70th anniversary of the chancellor's Christian Democratic Union party in Berlin, reviving a phrase she used in earlier years of Europe's debt crisis.
"That's why we have to fight for these principles," she said. "We could maybe set them aside in the short term. We could maybe say we'll just give in. But I say: in the medium and long term, we will suffer damage that way."
Ms Merkel praised German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble's conduct in Europe's negotiations with the Greek government, drawing an extended round of applause from national CDU leaders gathered for the event Monday.
BLOOMBERG
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
International
Labour mayor wins cap triumphant election run for Starmer
100 years on, SICCI to focus on internationalisation, digitalisation and sustainability
Microsoft bets big on South-east Asia, pledges billions in AI and cloud investments
Putin plans to meet Xi in China days after his new term starts
Biden vetoes bid to repeal US labour board rule on contract, franchise workers
Economic leaders of South Korea, Japan, China say FX volatility is a risk