BRATISLAVA, June 19, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovakia may join the countries that have ratified the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) already this Thursday, June 21. “There is no reason to hesitate and keep postponing this act of great importance for Slovakia. I personally hope that on Thursday we could join the states that fulfill their commitments,” said Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paska (SMER-SD) after a meeting with European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic on Tuesday.
Sefcovic praised the presented plan. He hopes that the ratification efforts necessary for the permanent bailout fund to start functioning will be accomplished already this month and the mechanism will start working as of July. “It is a very important signal we need to stabilize financial markets and therefore it is good that also the Slovak Republic proceeds in line with this schedule, (…), in order that we have the permanent bailout fund at disposal already as of July of this year,” he said.
Commissioner Sefcovic said that crucial for further negotiations with Greece and the possible change to conditions will be the formation of a new government in Athens. “It is necessary to have a partner for very intensive communication,” he underlined adding that then representatives of the so-called troika, i.e., the EU, IMF ad the European Central Bank can travel to Greece.
In case that the opposition fails to support the creation of the permanent bailout fund, the ruling SMER-SD is prepared to act independently, announced Paska . “We are prepared to take responsibility just as we have been bearing it since March 10,” he stated. Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday afternoon while the ESM debate is scheduled to start on Thursday, 9 a.m.
SITA