European powerhouse Germany talked up Wednesday the chances of a breakthrough in the eurozone debt crisis after a raft of dire warnings and jitters on financial markets a day ahead of a crunch summit.
"Germany and France ... must agree. If this does not happen then we can't make progress in Europe," Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said ahead of talks in Berlin with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "There is confidence on both sides that such a common line can be worked out this evening," Steffen Seibert said, adding Merkel was "very confident" Thursday's Brussels summit would produce a "good result." The comments by Merkel, who has come under fire from all sides for her handling of the eurozone debt crisis, marked a change of tone after she played down on Tuesday any expectations of a "spectacular" summit outcome.
In Paris, French government spokeswoman and Budget Minister Valerie Pecresse said: "We have one priority, an urgent one, which is to find a lasting solution to the Greek question."