欧盟委员会负责经济与货币事务的专员雷恩（Olli Rehn）说，欧元区危机正在削弱欧洲的地缘政治影响力，同时降低欧盟在国际社会的谈判地位。
雷恩周三在赫尔辛基对参加聚会的芬兰大使说，在涉及全球经济事务的政治决策中，比如20国集团（G-20）峰会以及国际货币基金组织（IMF）会议上，我们一直处于被动接受的一方，而这全是拜债务危机所赐。按照这种速度，欧洲在全球经济中的地位会被不幸地削弱。
雷恩说，欧洲经济危机主要是一场信心危机，而欧洲可以通过齐心协力的行动来重新赢得国际社会的信心。
雷恩说，增强信心的最好方法是展示一个团结的欧洲形象。欧洲的决策过程应该是一个增强信心的团队行动，否则不会实现任何目标，也不会结出任何硕果。
兼任欧盟委员会副主席的雷恩指出，亚洲和美国的政界人士及投资者认为，欧洲应该在政治和经济上团结一致，同时建立起支撑欧元所必须的各种制度。
雷恩又说，在他们看来，欧元区的问题是由支撑欧元所必须的制度尚不完善造成的，因此今后应该做的是巩固欧元区。
雷恩指出，拟议的欧元区统一银行监管机构（由欧洲央行出资）就是朝建立制度、巩固欧元的方向迈出了一步。
雷恩解释说，当欧洲稳定机制（European Stability Mechanism, 欧元区永久救助基金，简称：ESM）开始运作后，ESM有权直接向银行提供资金。正因为如此，接受ESM救助资金的欧元区成员国不会增加债务负担。ESM面临很大的市场压力。
雷恩说，欧元能否存续取决于三大核心战略：旨在稳定公共财政、促进欧元区成员国结构性改革的计划；建立金融防火墙或稳定基金以资助相关改革，其中包括欧洲央行主导的稳定物价的活动；建立欧洲经济和货币联盟的发展计划。
The euro-zone crisis is eroding Europe's geopolitical influence and compromising the European Union's negotiating position in international circles, European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn said.
In political decision-making involving global economic matters, such as in G-20 and IMF, we have constantly been on the receiving end because of the debt crisis, Mr. Rehn told a gathering of Finnish ambassadors in Helsinki on Wednesday. At this rate, Europe's status in the global economy is weakening ominously.
The European economic crisis is mostly a crisis of confidence, he said, and the region can regain the confidence of the global community by acting as a team.
We can best reinforce confidence by giving the picture of a united European team, Mr. Rehn said. European decision-making should be a confidence-building team sport, otherwise it will not accomplish anything, nor will it bear fruit.
Mr. Rehn, who is also vice-president of the European Commission, noted that politicians and investors in Asia and the U.S. believe Europe should close ranks politically and economically as well as set up the institutions required to support the common currency.
In their opinion, the euro-area problems are the result of this unfinished business, and for this reason, strengthening the euro area is the logical way forward, Mr. Rehn added.
The commissioner pointed to the proposed common bank-supervisory body financed by the European Central Bank as a step in the direction of building institutions to strengthen the euro.
When it begins operations, the European Stability Mechanism [the euro zone's permanent bailout fund] will have the authority to directly capitalize banks. Because of this, countries will no longer increase their debt burden with funds from the ESM, which has great market pressures, he explained.
Mr. Rehn said that the survival of the euro is based on three core strategies: programs for stabilization of public finances and structural reforms by member states; the creation of financial firewalls or stability funds to finance reforms including price stability activities by the ECB; and a development plan for the economic and monetary union.
