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Euro Zone Discussed Capital Controls if Greek Exits
Euro: Sources
By Luke Baker
Reuters
Monday, June 11, 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/11/us-eurozone-greece-capital-idU...
BRUSSELS -- European finance officials have
discussed limiting the size of withdrawals from ATM machines, imposing border
checks, and introducing euro-zone capital controls as a worst-case scenario
should Greece decide to leave the euro.
EU officials have told Reuters the ideas are part of
a range of contingency plans. They emphasized that the discussions were
merely about being prepared for any eventuality rather than planning for
something they expect to happen -- no one Reuters has spoken to expects
Greece to leave the single-currency area.
But with increased political uncertainty in Greece
following the inconclusive election on May 6 and ahead of a second election
on June 17, there is now an increased need to have contingencies in place,
the EU sources said.
The discussions have taken place in conference calls over the past six weeks,
as concerns have grown that a radical-left coalition, SYRIZA, may win the
second election, increasing the risk that Greece could renege on its EU/IMF
bailout and therefore move closer to abandoning the currency.
No decisions have been taken on the calls, but
members of the Eurogroup Working Group, which
consists of euro zone deputy finance ministers and heads of treasury
departments, have discussed the options in some detail, the sources said.
Belgium's finance minister, Steve Vanackere, said at the end of May that it was a function
of each euro zone state to be prepared for problems. These discussions have
been in that vein, with the specific aim of limiting a bank run or capital flight.
As well as limiting cash withdrawals and imposing
capital controls, they have discussed the possibility of suspending the
Schengen agreement, which allows for visa-free travel among 26 countries,
including most of the European Union.
"Contingency planning is underway for a
scenario under which Greece leaves," one of the sources, who has been involved in the conference calls, said.
"Limited cash withdrawals from ATMs and limited movement of capital have
been considered and analyzed."
Another source confirmed the discussions, including
that the suspension of Schengen was among the options raised.
"These are not political discussions, these are
discussions among finance experts who need to be prepared for any
eventuality," the second source said. "It is sensible planning,
that is all, planning for the worst-case scenario."
The first official said it was still being examined
whether there was a legal basis for such extreme measures.
"The Bank of Greece is not aware of any such
plans," a central bank spokesman in Athens told Reuters when asked about
the sources' comments.
The vast majority of Greeks -- some surveys have
indicated 75 to 80 percent -- like the euro and want to retain the currency,
something Greek politicians are aware of and which may dissuade them from
pushing the country too close to the brink.
However, SYRIZA is expected to win or come a strong second on June 17. Alexis Tsipras, the party's 37-year-old leader, has said he
plans to tear up or heavily renegotiate the 130-billion-euro bailout agreed
with the European Union and International Monetary Fund. The EU and IMF have
said they are not prepared to renegotiate.
If those differences cannot be resolved, the threat
of the country leaving or being forced out of the euro will remain, and hence
the need for contingencies to be in place.
Switzerland said last month it was considering
introducing capital controls if the euro falls apart.
In a conference call on May 21, the Eurogroup Working Group told euro zone member states that
they should each have a plan in place if Greece were to leave the currency.
Belgium's Vanackere said
two days after that call that it was a basic function of each euro zone
member state to be prepared for any eventuality.
"All the contingency plans (for Greece) come
back to the same thing: to be responsible as a government is to foresee even
what you hope to avoid," he told reporters.
"We must insist on efforts to avoid an exit
scenario but that doesn't mean we are not preparing for eventualities."
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