Eurozone states admit contingency plans for Greek euro exit

(BRUSSELS) - Eurozone countries admitted Wednesday they are examining likely costs and possible complications arising from a potential exit for Greece, but maintain contingency planning is only prudent commonsense.

Treasury officials from the other 16 eurozone member states were told this week to "reflect" on what an exit would mean for their economies in preparation for eventual "coordination concerning what each must do on a European level," a diplomat from one eurozone country told AFP.

He insisted that this was not a political message to Greece, but that it was a "normal" thing to do.

"It does not mean that we think the situation will get that far," he said, adding that "you would have said we were dreaming" otherwise.

"This is not about suddenly being told we have to prepare (for exit)," a second diplomat said.

"Treasury officials were already scratching their heads a year ago looking at different scenarios that could unfold," added a third.

"Frankly, it would be dereliction of duty if they hadn't done this," he said.

European Union president Herman Van Rompuy announced on Twitter that he met with caretaker Greek premier Panagiotis Pikrammenos in the hours leading up to an EU summit in Brussels at which the latter was to brief leaders on the lie of the land in Athens ahead of a decisive June 17 general election.