Euro Stability Quotes

There is no question that a breakup of the euro would be very damaging, very costly, both financially and politically. And the biggest loss would be incurred by Germany. Germans have to bear in mind that, effectively, they have suffered practically no losses so far. Transfers have all been in the form of loans, and it is only when the loans are not repaid that real losses will be incurred.

Greece has to stay in the euro.

Countries themselves need to do everything possible to remain in the euro zone.

Two decisions have damaged the stability both of the euro and of Europe: the premature admission of Greece to the euro area and the breach and subsequent weakening of the stability and growth pact.

Germany cannot get out of the euro. What it has to do, therefore, is make the economy more flexible - to eliminate the restrictions on prices, on wages and on employment; in short, the regulations that keep 10 percent of the German workforce unemployed.

It is true that no member state can be required to make payments to others. But if countries want to offer voluntary assistance, as in the Greek case, this isn't only allowed, but it's also in Germany's interest. We all benefit by ensuring the stability of the euro zone.

There's no more place in the euro zone for well-meaning laxness when dealing with deficits and failings. If the demands on Greece aren't taken seriously, we'll get stuck in quicksand. In the worst case, this would make it acceptable for one tranche to not be paid out. It is in the Greeks own interest not to test that.

If people do not believe in Europe and in the euro area, it must be dismantled.

My main argument against staying in the E.U. has been the poor economic record of the E.U. as a whole and the eurozone in particular. The performance has got worse the more the E.U. has developed joint policies and central controls.

Germany has to put the broader European interest on the same level as its own national interest, or the euro is toast.

The Germans argue - and I can fully understand them - that the euro countries must surrender their sovereignty, because that is the only way to implement budget discipline in a fiscal union.

We need to put in place an economic system of governance for the euro-zone.

Is Europe going to be breaking? I don't think so. I think the euro will stay. I think at the end of the day Europeans will find the solutions in order to hold Europe together.

I can't blame Angela Merkel for saying she wants a strong euro.

We cannot allow the bankruptcy of a euro member state like Greece to turn into a second Lehman Brothers.

The Greek people do not want to exit the euro. And I believe the Greek people already have shown that they have made major sacrifices to stay in the euro zone.

It is a responsibility we perceive from the entire international community to protect the stability of the single currency as well as the European frame work.

Indeed, the creators of the euro envisioned it as an instrument to promote political union.

Not all Greeks are ready to do whatever is necessary to stay in the euro.

The battle of the euro is being fought right now in Spain and Italy. The future of the euro is at stake in the next weeks.

Within our mandate, the ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro. Believe me, it will be enough.

Greece has given Europe the opportunity to fix a defect in the euro zone, that is the fact that we did not have a fiscal union. Now steps have been taken to begin that process. And there is more solidarity from nation to nation, and that is a good thing. That has been Greece's gift to Europe.

Most of what needs to be changed in the euro zone can be done without treaty changes. The demand for treaty change is as political as it is legal and I don't think it's going to happen soon.

The euro area must not be treated as an 'opt out' from the European Union.

We will do whatever we could do to keep Greece inside the euro and inside Europe.