Kopacz: Poland will not pay a penny for Greece

Reiterating what she said a week earlier after an initial solution to the Greek crisis had been found, Kopacz noted that any financial assistance for Greece would have to come exclusively from the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism.

On Monday Greece received an approximately EUR 7 billion bridging loan to repay its debts to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its current installment to the European Central Bank (ECB). The new aid programme for Greece is in the region of EUR 82-86 billion.

“If it turns out that Greece is insolvent and will have to be given this loan, then the European Union countries inside the eurozone will pay back our EUR 200 million contribution. This means we won’t spend a penny,” Kopacz continued.

Under proposals from the European Commission, Greece will be given a EUR 7 billion loan for up to three months, to keep it solvent until a third full bailout is agreed.

Poland is one of the nine countries in the 28-member EU that is still outside the eurozone.

The Greek government on Tuesday submitted in the parliament the draft laws required by international creditors as a condition for starting talks on the multi-billion euro rescue package for Athens.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has until Wednesday to push the necessary bills through in parliament. The first package caused a split in his left-wing Syriza party and was adopted with the help of votes from the pro-European opposition. The second package of bills, though less controversial, will be a test for the weakened majority.

It introduces, among others, a law on restructuring and orderly liquidation of banks, which states that in 2016 failing banks must first to pay their shareholders and bondholders. The second package also includes reform of civil judicial procedures aimed at accelerating administrative processes and reducing costs. (jh)