To Bail Out or not to Bail Out?. The current framework of financial assistance for Euro Area Member States measured against the requirements of EU Primary Law

May 2010 saw a turning point in the European response to combat the sovereign debt crisis that has befallen a series of Member States of the euro area. Through bilateral loans to Greece, the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism, the European Financial Stability Facility and the European Stability Mechanism, "Europe" decided to provide for financial assistance. This contribution addresses the question of whether these rescue schemes are compatible with the requirements of EU primary law, in particular the bail-out clause as enshrined in art.125(1) TFEU. The contribution will show that some of these measures are in violation of these requirements.