The president of the European Commission has struck a conciliatory tone on Greece, a day after politicians in Athens and the rest of Europe traded barbs about the country's efforts to survive its debt crisis.

Jose Manuel Barroso said yesterday that he saluted "the courage of the Greek government and the Greek people in these very challenging times and I would hope that the members of the European Union will accept the commitments given by Greece."

In recent days, politicians from Germany and the Netherlands lashed out at policymakers in Athens, questioning their promises to implement far-reaching cuts and reforms in return for a second, (euro) 130 billion (US$169 billion) bailout.

But Barroso also stressed that "there can be no collective solidarity without national responsibility."

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