The head of the eurozone's finance ministers is facing calls to resign after saying southern European countries have wasted money on "drinks and women".

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, a Dutchman, has stood by his remarks and refused to apologise.

Speaking to German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, he said: "During the euro crisis, the countries of the north of the eurozone showed solidarity with the countries in crisis.

"For me, as a social democrat, I think that solidarity is extremely important. But those who benefit also have duties," he added in the interview, published on Monday.

"I can't spend all my money on drinks and women and then ask for help."


Despite a mounting row, Mr Dijsselbloem has not backed down.

"No, certainly not," was his response to an MEP who asked him if he would apologise.

#Eurozone is about responsibility, solidarity but also respect. No room for stereotypes. @J_Dijsselbloem — Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) 22 March 2017

His position as leader of the Eurogroup had already come into question after his party was trounced in Dutch elections last week.

The row has further weakened him, with criticism coming from all sides.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva said Mr Dijssebloem's remarks were "absolutely unacceptable" and that he was "not fit to remain head of the Eurogroup".

Manfred Weber, the head of the centre-right European People's Party, the largest group in the European Parliament, tweeted: "Eurozone is about responsibility, solidarity but also respect. No room for stereotypes. @J_Dijsselbloem."

Gianni Pittella, head of the socialist group in the European Parliament, said the remarks were "shameful" and "discriminatory towards the countries of southern Europe".

"I truly wonder how someone with these views can still be head of the Eurogroup," the Italian added.

Mr Dijsselbloem is set to lose his job as Dutch finance minister in the coming months after his party's poor showing in the elections.

However, his term as head of the Eurogroup lasts until January 2018 and EU rules do not specify that the person holding the position must be a finance minister.