1 Feb 2012

Confidence expressed in next Greek deal

5:32 am on 1 February 2012

France and Germany say they are confident that a second bailout package for Greece can be agreed over the coming days.

The comments were made after a summit in Brussels on Monday where 25 European Union leaders agreed to join a fiscal treaty to enforce budget discipline.

Britain and the Czech Republic refused to enter the agreement.

Talks to get private creditors to write off billions in Greek debt have also ended, but Athens is now under pressure to push through more austerity measures.