German Chancellor Angela Merkel will discuss the Greek crisis and the situation in Ireland and Portugal with the head of the International Monetary Fund on May 15, as officials aim to stem euro-region debt concerns.
IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn will be in Berlin for talks on the euro region and the Group of Eight summit in Deauville, France, on May 26-27, a German government spokesman told reporters today. Merkel is awaiting a quarterly audit on Greece by the IMF and European officials as the government in Athens struggles to adhere to a savings plan.
The euro has lost 3.7% against the U.S. dollar this month, buffeted by investor concern that Greece may not be able to meet its debt obligations as European officials begin to discuss possible additional measures.
Merkel also met this week with European Commission President Jose Barroso and EU President Herman Van Rompuy. The Greek audit is due in "early to mid-June," German Finance Ministry spokesman Martin Kotthaus said today.
