Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who also chairs the euro
group, called on Friday for quick action on the US bailout plan to remove
uncertainty from the market.
"My hope is that the bailout package prepared by the American administration
will be approved in one form or another," Juncker told journalists in
Luxembourg.
Juncker warned uncertainty surrounding the US bailout plan is threatening
European banking industry.
"Banks in Europe that are starting to navigate in difficult waters suffer
from this uncertainty," Juncker said, "My hope is that they will do it quickly
because, when I look at financial andstock markets, exchange rates and global
confidence indicators, the Americans' hesitation over their intentions deepens
uncertainty."
"I would appreciate it if the American executive and legislators would
approve a solid package as quickly as possible," he added.
US lawmakers were still wrangling on the controversial 700-billion-dollar
bailout plan on Friday, which was proposed by the Bush administration to save
financial giants from falling in the latest wave of sub-prime mortgage crisis.
"Wall Street has become Red Square. Wall Street has become what was Red
Square because even the Russians would not dare nationalizing things this much,"
Juncker said, referring to the recent moves by the US government to take control
of mortgage institutions Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and insurer American
International Group.
"The Americans do not have any other choice than to shoulder the problem that
financial markets have given them," he said.