Angela Merkel: the eurozone's one constant

Five years ago today, Greece’s then Prime Minister, George Papandreou, disclosed to the world that his country was in severe fiscal difficulties.

Merkel dismisses talk of increasing EU stability facility

Ahead of talks in Berlin last night, Greek prime minister George Papandreou insisted his government was making a “superhuman” reform effort and warned Germans that sniping about Greece was “frustrating”.

“After this period of pain, I promise you that we Greeks will soon fight our way back to growth and prosperity,” he told the Federation of German Industries. “If [Greek] people feel only punishment and scorn, this crisis will not become an opportunity – it will become a lost cause.”