Europe is ‘at a crossroads’

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde on Friday urged European leaders to act without delay to overcome the eurozone crisis. Speaking in New York, Lagarde said that five years into the crisis, the goal of a safer financial system has not yet been attained. “We are still at a great distance from our final destination,” she said. “And with the stakes rising by the day, we stand at a crossroads.” Lagarde appeared to respond to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who spoke about long-term plans of rebuilding Europe while other European leaders insist on quick solutions. “Policymakers need to lay out and follow a clear roadmap of how to finish the job — not just looking to the next five or ten years, but looking to the next weeks and months ahead,” Lagarde said. She noted at the same time that restoring the health of European banks was in the interests of all and would require a European solution. “Let me be clear: The heart of European bank repair lies in Europe. That means more Europe, not less,” she said. From khaleejtimes