New Greek PM to meet EU officials

New Greek prime minister Lucas Papademos will meet top European Union officials on Monday in Brussels, Mr Papademos's office …

New Greek prime minister Lucas Papademos will meet top European Union officials on Monday in Brussels, Mr Papademos's office said in a statement today.

Mr Papademos will meet European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman van Rompuy, the statement said.

The European Commission reiterated today Greece must provide written confirmation that it is committed to reforms to bring down its debt, after conservative leader Antonis Samaras said he would not sign such statements.

Mr Papademos, charged with securing international financing to avert a collapse of the Greek economy, said keeping the euro is the only way forward for the country. "Our membership of the euro is a guarantee of monetary stability and creates the right conditions for sustainable growth."

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Mr Papademos told lawmakers late yesterday at the start of a three-day debate on a confidence motion in his new government. "Our membership of the euro is the only choice."

Mr Papademos formed a government on November 11th after four days of political wrangling.

It must implement budget measures and decisions related to an October 26th European bailout amounting to €130 billion as well as manage a voluntary debt swap, by the end of February.

The immediate priority for Greece is securing the payment of an €8 billion loan instalment under a previous €110 billion European Union-led rescue, Mr Papademos said. The tranche must be paid before the middle of December to prevent a collapse of the country's economy.

Agencies