BRUSSELS, February 11. /TASS/. The European Union believes that Greece’s demand addressed to Germany for an extra €162 billion in World War II reparations is a purely bilateral problem, the European Commission’s spokesperson, Mina Andreeva said on Wednesday.
"This is a purely bilateral affair for the two countries to settle between themselves. The EU establishes no rules of paying war reparations. The question is beyond the European Commission’s realm of competencies," Andreeva said.
According to some Greek legislators Germany must pay Greece $7.1 billion in 1938 prices, in other words, €108 billion without interest in current prices. Also, Nazi Germany confiscated $3.5 billion worth of gold and cash from Greece’s Central Bank in 1938 prices, an equivalent of €54 billion in current purchasing power. In all, the compensations may exceed €162 billion without interest (€600-700 billion interest included).
The demand Germany should pay extra World War II reparations for Nazi crimes during World War II is part of the program of the new Greek government under Alexis Tsipras.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said earlier on Wednesday before negotiations with his Greek counterpart Nicos Kotzias, that in his opinion any discussion of reparations to Athens for Nazi occupation during World War II would be out of place.
"As before, we are of the opinion that from the legal standpoint all issues regarding reparations have been settled," he said.