Outgoing Eurogroup president Jean-Claude Juncker yesterday labelled as «unpatriotic» wealthy Greeks who had moved their money out of the country and encouraged Athens to take measures to stop the practice.

"I wholeheartedly encourage the efforts of the Greek government to prevent the flight of capital abroad, to London and Frankfurt – at a time when the Germans are acting as if this is not an issue – to Amsterdam and to Luxembourg,» Juncker told members of the European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs on Thursday.

"Governments have to cooperate in the best possible way to help the Greek government uncover this unpatriotic stance of certain Greek millionaires and billionaires. We are not here to take advantage of the austerity policies being implemented in certain member states."

Juncker also blasted “Anglo-Saxon futurologists” who had predicted that Greece would leave the euro, prompting the single currency's collapse. He identified the Greek government as having made progress over the last few months and said that it was vital Greece remained in the euro despite "northern philosophers" not sharing his appreciation of the country and its people.

"For me, Europe and the eurozone would be incomplete without Greece,» he said. EWe have become arrogant, we do not recognize history. We do not like those who are not like us, we ignore all that Greece and Greeks have offered Europe. I will support this country until the end. I am a friend of the Greeks and I will continue to be a friend to the countries who do not have as much support as the big member states."