In adopting by large majority the report by Metin Kazak (Movement for Rights and Freedoms, Bulgaria) during the Brussels plenary session, the European Parliament warned the European Commission and the Council of its intention not to relinquish its prerogatives regarding the awarding of the Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) to neighboring countries.

Commenting on the underwhelming outcome of the latest EU crisis summit, Greens/EFA co-president Dany Cohn-Bendit stated:

"Last night's summit paid predictable lip service to the need to maintain the integrity of the Euro and to keep Greece in the Eurozone but talk is cheap. Once again, EU leaders have failed to back up their rhetoric with any substance.

Commenting on the informal European Summit on investment, growth and jobs, Joseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, said: "The European Union has worked hard to ensure financial stability in the Eurozone and to build an exit strategy that will help us grow out of the crisis. I welcome the discussion held yesterday by the Heads of State and Government, in line with previous discussions."

Ahead of the Informal dinner of Heads of State and Government of 23 May, CEEP calls on EU leaders to exploit the full potential of public services as the engine for sustainable growth.

"EU leaders have for too long turned a deaf ear to our proposals on how to solve the crisis but by doing so they don't listen to their own citizens" said ALDE group President Guy Verhofstadt ahead of today's informal European Council by referring to the recently published Eurobarometer survey on 'The crisis and the economic governance in Europe'.