European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday cautioned the leftist Greek government not to raise the minimum wage in the country, warning that it was “extremely difficult” for Spain, Ireland and Portugal to acquiesce to such a prospect when they are unable to apply the measure in their own countries.

“It’s very difficult to claim privileges that other states don’t enjoy,” Juncker was quoted by the German newspaper Wirtschafts Woche.

He added that he was trying to “patiently explain that one should take into account that the Eurozone consists not just of one republic, but of 18 more.”

“We cannot ask of Spain, Ireland and Portugal, who have already passed through a ‘valley of tears’, to have much sympathy and accept that Greece should be treated differently, especially on raising the minimum wage.”

Furthermore, the former Luxembourg PM referred to what he called the inexperience of the new Greek government, saying that “it is not politically elegant for the (Greek) premier to insult the Germans”.

Conversely, he stressed that “we should welcome new Greek government amicably”.

Finally, he dismissed the possibility of “Grexit”.