EC and ECB working on emergency plans for Greek euro exit, says trade commissioner Karel De Gucht Concern has grown that Greece may decide to leave or be forced out of the 17-country currency bloc after a rise in popular opposition to an EU-IMF programme of fiscal austerity and structural reforms undermined attempts to form a government after May 6 elections. Greeks are scheduled to go the polls again on June 17. A victory by the far-left, anti-bailout coalition SYRIZA - which some opinion polls suggest is likely - would increase the possibility of the country leaving the euro. However, one opinion poll on Thursday showed the pro-bailout New Democracy party in first place, several points ahead of the SYRIZA, which has pledged to tear up the bailout agreement. The prospect of Syriza winning the election has sent the euro and markets across the continent tumbling this week. Earlier this week, the country's president said Greeks had withdrawn up to €800m from banks as the political uncertainty deepened. In a further blow, the European Central Bank said it had halted liquidity operations with some Greek banks because their capital was too depleted. De Gucht told De Standaard he thought Greece would stay inside the eurozone, but that the crucial question until the next election was what conditions the ECB would set for guaranteeing the liquidity of Greek banks. "The endgame has begun, and how it will finish I do not know," he said. The question is can everyone maintain their sangfroid over the coming weeks. Asked earlier this week about any contingency planning for a Greek exit, the spokeswoman for the European Commission replied: There are many, many questions arising and many questions open about Greece and most answers have to come from Greece and we have to respect the ongoing political process. Clearly, the future of Greece is in the euro zone. We are working on that.