European governments dropped clues that bondholders may have to take bigger losses on Greek debt in a second aid package, as Greece’s deteriorating economic outlook forces bolder steps to quell the fiscal crisis.
Finance ministers considered “technical revisions” to a July deal that foresaw investors contributing 50 billion euros ($66 billion) to a 159 billion-euro rescue. That “private sector involvement” includes debt swaps and rollovers.
“As far as PSI is concerned, we have to take into account that we have experienced changes since the decision we have taken on July 21,” Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs the group of euro area finance ministers, told reporters early Tuesday after a meeting in Luxembourg. “These are technical revisions we are discussing.”
Together with plans to get more firepower out of the 440 billion-euro rescue fund, the review of Greece’s aid package was a response to growing international frustration with Europe’s inability to get to grips with the crisis after 18 months of incremental steps.
Juncker gave no details about a possible revision to the debt swap. Thes talks came after seven countries including Germany, Europe’s dominant economy, weighed calling for Greek bond writedowns of as much as 50 percent, two European officials said.
Finance ministers also pushed back a decision on the release of Greece’s next 8 billion-euro loan installment until after Oct. 13. It was the second postponement of a decision originally slated for this meeting.
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