Leaving the euro is not an option for Greece

As the euro crisis staggers on, Greek EU commissioner Maria Damanaki has raised the prospect of her country being forced out of the eurozone if it does not quickly assert control over its wayward public finances.

She said: “Either we agree with our creditors on a programme of tough sacrifices and results, undertaking our responsibilities to our past, or we return to the drachma. Everything else is of secondary importance.” However, the spokesman for economics commissioner Olli Rehn immediately dismissed the suggestion Greece might return to the drachma. “The scenario of Greece leaving the euro has not been and is not on the table in the euro group of ministers,” he said. Given the now infamous quote by Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg PM and head eurozone finance minister, “When it becomes seri...