Joe Biden in 'Poland is Portugal' gaffe
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
05.02.2013 10:46
The United State's vice-president Joe Biden has confused Portugal with Poland during a speech in Munich.
US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and his wife Jill Biden (R) exit Air Force Two as they land at Orly airport as part of Joe Biden's first official visit to Paris, France, 03 February: photo - EPA/JACQUES BRINON
Biden, currently on a tour of Europe, appeared to believe that Poland was in the eurozone at the Munich Security Conference at the weekend.
“We have seen positive steps recently to address the eurozone crisis, with the European Central Bank pledging to stand behind countries willing to launch reforms, and with Greece, Ireland, Poland, Spain and Italy all taking important steps to put their economies on a sounder path,” Biden said, reports the Daily Telegraph (UK).
The US vice-president mistook Poland for Portugal, which has been going through a severe finance crisis.
The gaffe has been subsequently corrected in the official transcript of the speech.
Poland is not a member of the eurozone but the government has said it intends to apply for membership and to adopt the single currency by 2017. (pg)