Merkel unpicks bail-out deal before summit

Preview and reports of the discussion by EU Member States at the European Council, Brussels, 24-25 March 2011 on hopes of reaching a comprehensive solution to the eurozone’s debt challenges.

In the period leading up to the summit, it was hoped that agreements could be made to formalise the EU's plans for a rescue fund to help protect the eurozone against future debt crises.

But ahead of the start of the meeting, things looked far from being finalised, with issues relating to Germany, Ireland, Finland and Portugal preventing agreement.

La Tribune, 24.3.11: Euro, curse of the 17 Sisyphus (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/568091-euro-curse-17-sisyphus

Spiegel Online International, 24.3.11: 'At Some Point, People Will Speculate against Germany' http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,753023,00.html

PressEurop, 24.3.11: Eurozone rushes ahead http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/568291-eurozone-rushes-ahead

BBC News, 24.3.11: Portugal PM Socrates' resignation overshadows EU summit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12845668

ESO: Background information: Finland holds key to eurozone ‘grand bargain’ http://www.europeansources.info/record/finland-holds-key-to-eurozone-grand-bargain/

Deutsche Welle, 24.3.11: Portuguese government's fall throws EU summit into even more disarray http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14940080,00.html

EurActiv, 24.3.11: EU leaders to delay eurozone rescue deal http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/eu-fall-short-euro-promises-news-503452

ESO: Background information: Eurozone strikes debt deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurozone-strikes-debt-deal/

European Council: News: Spring summit for financial stability http://www.european-council.europa.eu/home-page/highlights/spring-summit-for-financial-stability.aspx?lang=en

European Commission: Speech/11/209: Statement by President Barroso following the Tripartite Social Summit http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/11/209&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: Speech/11/216: Statement by President Barroso at the press conference following the European Council http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/11/216&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: Speech/11/211: Statement by President Barroso at the press conference following the first day of the March European Council http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/11/211&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Rzeczpospolita, 24.3.11: Life in the new bloc(k) (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/570291-life-new-block

EUObserver, 24.3.11: EU summit on 'comprehensive' crisis response to leave loose ends http://euobserver.com/9/32053

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