Press quotes

  • Bailout showdown: Greece and Germany raise the stakes
    Time, 24 March 2010

    Simon Tilford, chief economist at the London based Centre for European Reform think-tank, says Merkel's brinkmanship is understandable given the political risks of Germany's conceding too soon but that she cannot hold out indefinitely. "It is implausible that Greece could get through the rest of this year unaided," he says. "Ultimately, the Germans will put something on the table. They will always defend the stability of the euro."

  • Sarkozy cannot fall out with Merkel
    Financial Times, 24 March 2010

    As Charles Grant, of the London based Centre for European Reform, points out, there have been crunch moments before that have prevented the bloc from moving forward. This is one that could send it careering backwards.

  • Europe looks at IMF with unease as Greece struggles
    New York Times, 24 March 2010

    "The sums involved are quite large, and no one knows quite how much of that gap the IMF can fill," said Philip Whyte, an economist at the Centre for European Reform in London. "Even 10 or 11 billion euros would be a big help," he said, but it would need to be supplemented by some form of European loan, bilateral or collective, particularly with Greece needing to roll over an additional $44 billion later this year.

  • Merkel hailed as EU 'victor' in Greece crisis
    EU Business, 24 March 2010

    "I am not hugely optimistic," Simon Tilford from the London based think-tank Centre for European Reform told AFP. "They might manage to finesse it to make it look like there has been an agreement ... But with a bit more scrutiny it will become apparent that we haven't made a whole lot of progress. "There will be some kind of deal announced, and it will be some sort of hybrid, but the terms attached to the granting of any bilateral loans will be unrealistic."

  • EU eyes aid deal that satisfies Merkel and Greece
    Reuters, 23 March 2010

    "Greece has to roll over a lot of money in April and May. It might manage to do that but the idea that it could get through the rest of this year unaided is pretty implausible," said Simon Tilford of the Centre for European Reform think-tank. "There is pressure now to agree to something at the summit but it has to be something that Germany can accept and also prevents Greece going (directly) to the IMF. It will be hard."

  • Greek debt crisis merely adds to the list of issues dividing the European Union
    The Washington Post, 21 March 2010

    "The creation and enlargement of the EU was one of Europe's biggest achievements, but now its inability to speak as one, and its failure to agree on how to tackle its underlying economic and social challenges, is undermining Europe's standing and potentially leading it into a period of decline," said Simon Tilford, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, a London-based think-tank.

  • Germany: Responsible for Europe's crisis?
    Global Post, 19 March 2010

    "Germans think they have been prudent, they say that Greeks and others should take a leaf out of their book," said Simon Tilford of the Centre for European Reform in London. "They are nonplussed when others don't buy into it. But, it's almost impossible to get the economy growing unless you get exports to Germany."

  • Euro laggards risk stagnation, deflation
    CNBC, 18 March 2010

    The CER's Charles Grant told reporters that the countries ignored advice from the European Union's executive to overhaul their economies by making labour markets more flexible and knocking down barriers that protect some businesses or sectors from rivalry. If the four nations had been "better pupils and swallowed the medicine, they wouldn't be in the trouble they are today," Grant said.

  • Greece to seek details on loans from Europe
    New York Times, 18 March 2010

    Simon Tilford, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, said that the euro zone leaders had "done enough to reassure the markets for a little while," but that "they are going to have to clarify things at some point. The idea that the crisis has been overcome is wishful thinking."

  • Merkel floats option of euro zone expulsion
    The Wall Street Journal, 18 March 2010

    "I don't see such a treaty change ever being agreed," said Simon Tilford, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, a London think-tank. "Other member states will not accede to this in the absence of any recognition on the part of the Germans that they will need to amend their economic strategy if the stability of the euro zone is not to be compromised."