Greece should get EU support for pledges-Almunia

BRUSSELS Feb 9 (Reuters) - European Union leaders should tell Greece on Thursday that it will receive the bloc's support in exchange for clear budget commitments, EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said.

EU leaders meet on Thursday in Brussels and are likely to discuss the difficult budgetary situation of Greece amid growing market concern that Athens may not be able to service its debts.

"I would like the leaders of Europe to say to the Greek authorities that in exchange for the efforts you are making, you are going to get support from us," Almunia told the European Parliament on Tuesday, his last day in office.

"You don't get support for free. That would simply lay the foundations for further imbalances and crisis. We have got instruments to provide that in exchange for clear commitments that they will meet their responsibilities," Almunia said. (Reporting by Marcin Grajewsk and Jan Strupczewski, editing by Dale Hudson)