The case of Greece runs the risk of becoming a crisis within the (debt) crisis. On 30 January, moments before the start of the informal European Council in Brussels, Chancellor Angela Merkel did her best to quell the controversy caused by a German proposal that would consist in putting Greece under budgetary tutelage. Merkel reiterated that the main concern was helping the country fulfil its reform obligations. The debate should focus on “how Europe can help Greece to accomplish the tasks it has been assigned,” Merkel told the press when she arrived at the summit. “But all this will only work if Greece and the other [EU] member states talk about it, that is why I do not want to have a polemic but a discussion, which will lead to a successful outcome,” the chancellor concluded.

The German government was criticised, in particular in Greece, for its proposal to put Greece under tutelage from a European budgetary committee, which would have the right to veto decisions in order to ensure that Athens reduces its deficit and implements the economic reforms it has promised its creditors.

Officially, the summit is dedicated to finding means of restarting growth and employment in Europe, as well as to approving the budgetary pact. However, since this extremely controversial German proposal, the climate has considerably worsened.