As outgoing Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker tells MEPs that economic prospects are brighter, we ask him how bright – and what about the poorest citizens?

Interview: The worst is over, says Juncker

Jean-Claude Juncker,  outgoing President of the Eurogroup,

Chancellor Merkel has said  2013 will be a difficult year.

Wolfgang Schäuble has said it will be a  good year with the euro crisis behind us.

What in your view  is 2013 going to be like?

I think that we remain  with all the difficulties

As the year 2012 was a rather good year  for the euro area,

given the negotiated results we have had,

I think that 2013,  although a very difficult year,

nevertheless will be a year of some relief.

that you think there should be basic social  rights for the poorest people in Europe

that apply across the whole EU,  including a minimum wage.

I've been advocating that idea for,  I don't know, 20 years at least,

because after the single market  was put in place

and after the economic and monetary  union was launched successfully

the time has come,  and it's already too late,

to imagine a minimum level of social rules  to be applied to all workers

at the level of the Eurogroup  and the European Union.

I think that we need legal minimum wages  in all the countries of the euro area.

I think that we need minimum income  rules for the weakest in our societies.

Not the same level everywhere,  but as a matter of principle

The poorest people have suffered  through austerity measures.

I'm really sad about  some details of measures

which have been taken  in problem countries,

although I know that the problems  these countries have to face are huge.

This is not a remark  directly related to Ireland,

because I think the Irish government  is doing its job in the best way possible.

But in Greece  I sometimes had the impression

Some in northern countries blame  southern countries for being profligate,

but you say they have no right  to point the finger.

I think that although the South  has been less rigorous in some aspects,

that is no reason for southern countries  to apologise.

These countries have had to undergo  a huge reform programme

before being able to enter the euro area.

They have applied  in Portugal, in Greece -

Ireland not being  a typical southern country -

and we should respect the people  suffering from rigour and austerity.

I don't think the North is that much  more virtuous than the South.

We have other problems,  but we have structural problems too.

Jean-Claude Juncker,  thanks very much and good luck.