Steunplan voor Griekenland goed ontvangen in financiële markt (en)

The Spanish Secretary of State for the EU, Diego López Garrido, has described as "clearly positive" the decision to establish an aid package for Greece, which has strengthened the euro and the 16 countries in the euro zone.

López Garrido referred to the recovery that the euro experienced within the financial markets on Monday and to the reduction in the premium of the Greek and Spanish debts with the German bond.

He stressed that the EU had shown that it is not just a monetary unit but also a political and economic unit capable of deciding its own destiny in the face of speculative attacks from the markets.This decision - he asserted - means there is no chance of a euro zone country entering into a state of suspension of payments.

On Sunday the Eurozone i ministers agreed to offer Greece credit worth 30,000 million euros at an interest rate of around 5 percent, of which Spain will contribute 3,675 million euros through its European Central Bank contribution.

The package will be topped up with a smaller amount provided by the International Monetary Fund, with which the European Commission will have to agree the macro-economic conditions of the loans.

The Secretary of State highlighted the role played by the Spanish presidency in reaching the agreement, which has brought together the Greek government, the Commission and the Eurogroup, in close collaboration with the stable presidency of the Council.

He added that the informal meeting of ministers of economy to be held in Madrid this week will address the Greek issue and any progress made in the conversations between the Commission and the IMF i and also coordination of the economic policies.