“For the first time, I found the leadership of the euro zone focusing on the fundamentals here in respect to the situation arising from Greece, and the fear of contagion,” said Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny. “There was clearly an understanding that the world is watching Europe and that there isn’t any point in doing this in a half-hearted fashion.”
The options being debated now are more severe and far-reaching than those under consideration in months past. Last year, when the crisis first threatened the euro zone’s stability, leaders insisted that Greece would not default and that assistance would only be provided to countries on the brink of collapse, and at punitive cost to discourage free-riders.
Now, the question is how big a default Greece will have, and leaders are scrambling to open floodgates of aid to several countries.
via Europe Leaders Debate Severe Options for Accord – WSJ.com.