Pierre Moscovici News

Moscovici said protectionism could damage growth and the principles of free trade of the World Trade Organisation.

"As far as the EU is concerned, we are ready to open negotiations" on Britain`s exit from the EU," Pierre Moscovici added.

Along with its debt crisis the Greek state is now overwhelmed by the arrival of around a million migrants in a year.

The EU's economic affairs commissioner has called on Athens "not to play games" with the International Monetary Fund as the body decides whether to participate in Greece's latest bailout.

Greece and its creditors aim to finalise a deal for the country`s third bailout by mid-August in time for Athens to make a huge payment to the ECB, EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said Wednesday.

EU Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici on Wednesday hailed the shake-up of the team handling Greece`s fractious bailout negotiations with its creditors, but warned that reaching a deal soon was "urgent."

Top European officials and Greece`s finance minister were on Thursday forced to play down fears that the country was poised to exit the eurozone, after the IMF rejected suggestions that Athens would postpone loan repayments.

The European Union is not laying the groundwork for a Greek exit from the eurozone, Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici insisted Thursday.

Talks with Greece over its debt crisis should take place within the framework of its existing economic bailout programme, the EU's economic and financial affairs commissioner Pierre Moscovici said.