The head of the European Commission has congratulated Germany on its role in the Irish bailout.
Jose Manuel-Barroso says countries like Germany have shown solidarity to Ireland in lending it money when other investors would not.
Speaking in Berlin Mr. Barroso said Ireland would not have been able to exit the bailout this month without European solidarity.
He also congratulated Ireland and the Irish people for their hard work in turning the economy around.
Speaking at a tourism summit in the German capital, Mr. Barroso said "Ireland will exit the programme during this month of December. Certainly, it was mainly an effort of the Irish people and the Irish political leaders. They have shown consensus and resolve, but let's be honest, Ireland would not have been able to achieve that without European solidarity".
"So, we have to congratulate Ireland and the Irish people, but we also have to congratulate the countries, like Germany, that have shown solidarity and the institutions that have worked hand in hand with Ireland so that Ireland can now return on its own feet to the markets" he added.
