Eurogroup chairman attacks Germany as ‘un-European’

Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg prime minister and Eurogroup chairman, attacked Germany on Wednesday for acting in an “un-European” manner for the way it blocked proposals for eurozone bonds.

Juncker told German weekly Die Zeit in an interview that the German government had not properly looked at the proposal, which was aimed at helping weaker eurozone members raise money, before deciding to oppose it.

“Germany’s thinking was a bit simplistic there,” he said.

“They are rejecting an idea before studying it. This is very strange. This way of creating taboo areas in Europe and not dealing with others’ ideas is a very un-European way of dealing with European matters,” he said.

At a meeting of eurozone finance ministers this week, Germany rejected the proposal, which was was made by Juncker and had won backing from Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it would weaken the incentive for states with troubled finances to get their house in order. Spain and the Netherlands are also opposed to the idea.