De Rossa welcomes EU commitment to keep Greece in Eurozone

Labour Party MEP Proinsias de Rossa has welcoming the commitment from the EU Commission President to keep Greece in the Eurozone.

In his State of the Union Address to the European Parliament this morning Jose Manuel-Barroso said that Europe faced the "greatest challenge in its history".

However, he warned Greece that it must meet its reform commitments.

Proinsias de Rossa said Greece should not be excluded from the EU or the Eurozone.

Mr de Rossa said: "It is important that Barroso said that because he is the President of the Commission - the Commission is the guardian of the treaties.

"There is no basis whatsoever for excluding Greece from the European Union or from the Eurozone".

"What we have to do is assist Greece to overcome its debt problems."