Following the statement today from the president of the EPP group in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, on austerity and fiscal stance, the leader of the Socialists and Democrats Group, Gianni Pittella commented:

"In Europe there is only one real 'bad guy'. This is Mr. Schäuble who, as result of his obtuse obsession for austerity, is causing an uprising against the European Union among citizens all across the continent. Dear President Weber, can you not see that if Schäuble and his friends are not stopped soon, they will push the European Union to the verge of disintegration?"