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The EU wants to "save the euro, London plays alone

An afternoon and night to negotiate a little. Finance ministers of the European Union gathered in Brussels on Sunday to develop a European Support Fund before the opening of Asian stock markets in the night. The mechanism would be for the countries of the euro area are experiencing difficulties in refinancing their debt markets.

These negotiations will be tough. If Sweden, which does not belong to the eurozone, said she would not rule of replenishing the fund for assistance, the United Kingdom, he was categorical. It will not contribute to the plan because it is not part of the single currency club.

"I think it is important that we do everything we can do to stabilize the markets …Be very, very clear: if there is a proposal to create a stabilization fund to the euro, it must be left to the Eurogroup countries, "said British Finance Minister, interviewed from Brussels by British news channel Sky News.

Despite these differences, the EU wants to send a strong signal to markets. They have since the beginning of the crisis in Greek, brought little credit to European decisions. On Sunday, the Spanish Minister of Finance, Elena Salgado, has shown great volunteer arriving in Brussels for talks: "We will defend the euro, we believe that we should give more stability to our currency, and we will do what is necessary to achieve that goal. "She also stated that "Spain does not intend to use this fund."

The original idea was that the European Commission to borrow under the guarantee of all countries of the European Union, including those like Britain that do not use the euro, as it is mechanism of the EU, diplomatic sources said.

To validate such a device would require the approval of a majority of the 27 qualified enough that EU ministers meet in Brussels, but the goal is to have a consensus.

An agreement must Tonight

London's refusal to participate could force the euro zone to fall back on a loan facility guaranteed by the only countries using the single currency, an option also being considered.

The contingency plan for defending the single currency will he ultimately guaranteed by all countries of the EU or the only states in the euro area? "It's a question for debate," a diplomatic source admitted to another European country.

The British, they refuse to give their guarantee for loans in Europe, however, are willing to approve in principle the establishment of the Stabilization Fund, according to British sources.The latest proposal on the table talking about a $ 60 billion for the fund, she said.

The euro area is imperative to reach an agreement before financial markets open in Asia on Sunday night to Monday in order to be able to reassure investors after Greece took in their sights Spain, Portugal or Italy.

London also in turmoil

The United Kingdom is, as the euro area in turmoil. The elections on Thursday did not produce a clear majority in Parliament, which is at once suspended. Because of this uncertainty, the pound fell Friday below 1.46 dollars, its lowest in a year.

Markets are particularly concerned about the reduction of budget deficit British, the highest of the major EU countries. It reaches 12% of gross domestic product (GDP).What dig the debt, which could peak at 94.1% in 2011, according to the OECD. The rating agencies expect the presentation of a future austerity plan to degrade or not the "AAA" rating from the United Kingdom.

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