BERLIN (Reuters) – One of Germany’s leading economic associations came out in favor of joint euro zone bond issuance on Monday, raising pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel to consider bolder crisis steps ahead of a meeting with the French president.

Until now, the idea of so-called “Eurobonds” has been fiercely opposed by Berlin, which is fearful such a step would push up German borrowing costs and reduce incentives for weaker euro zone members like Greece to reform their economies.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s economy minister will meet on Wednesday with around 20 German business groups to discuss how to boost investment in the Greek economy, the ministry said on Monday.

Euro zone leaders agreed last week to offer Greece debt relief through a new rescue package of easier loan terms and to launch a “Marshall Plan” to revive the ailing Greek economy.

BERLIN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Central Bank (ECB) is willing to let Greece slip into temporary default as part of a crisis response that would involve a bond buyback but no new tax on banks, EU sources said on Thursday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy crafted a common position on a second Greek bailout in late night talks in Berlin with ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet, sources in both governments said.

BERLIN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Germany and France have ruled out a bank tax after reaching a common position on a second bailout of Greece to prevent the country’s debt crisis spreading through Europe, EU sources said on Thursday.

The accord came after seven hours of talks late into Wednesday night between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Berlin, sources in both governments said.

BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) – Germany and France have reached a common position on a second bailout of Greece in their effort to prevent the country’s debt crisis from spreading through Europe, officials said on Thursday.

The accord came after seven hours of talks late into Wednesday night between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Berlin, sources in both governments said.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Euro zone policymakers battling to keep a lid on the region’s debt crisis must be ready to respond if Greek lawmakers block the country’s new austerity measures, Germany’s deputy finance minister said on Monday.

Joerg Asmussen said he expected the Greek parliament to vote through the 28 billion euro austerity package — essential for clearance of the next tranche of Greece’s EU/IMF bailout program — but Europe needed to be prepared for the worst.

BERLIN, June 27 (Reuters) – Euro zone policymakers battling
to keep a lid on the region’s debt crisis must be ready to
respond if Greek lawmakers block the country’s new austerity
measures, Germany’s deputy finance minister said on Monday.

Joerg Asmussen said he expected the Greek parliament to vote
through the 28 billion euro austerity package — essential for
clearance of the next tranche of Greece’s EU/IMF bailout
programme — but Europe needed to be prepared for the worst.

BERLIN/PARIS, June 22 (Reuters) – European governments
summoned banks and insurers to urgent meetings on Wednesday,
pressing them to share the cost of a second Greek bailout with
taxpayers and avoid a market meltdown.

Germany invited private creditors to a meeting, a letter
seen by Reuters showed, to discuss their voluntary support for
the debt-struck country. Other euro zone countries, including
France and the Netherlands, held similar discussions.

BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) – European governments are pressing reluctant banks and insurers to share the pain of a second Greek bailout package, in an attempt to avoid market meltdown while reducing the cost to taxpayers.

Talks between governments and creditors began across the euro zone on Wednesday, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The European Union bloc agreed last week that any private sector support for the bailout had to be voluntary.

BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) – European governments are trying to persuade banks and insurers to share the pain of a second Greek bailout package, in an attempt to avoid market meltdown while keeping taxpayers happy.

Talks between governments and creditors will begin across the euro zone Wednesday, a source in the German government said. The European Union bloc agreed last week that any such participation could only be voluntary.