Photo

Reuters Photojournalism

Our day's top images, in-depth photo essays and offbeat slices of life. See the best of Reuters photography.  See more | Photo caption 

Photo

Devastated by Tornado

A huge tornado tears through an Oklahoma City suburb.  Slideshow 

Photo

Message of humility

A religious fraternity in Rio considers the election of Pope Francis, a confirmation of their beliefs in poverty and simplicity.  Slideshow 

Sponsored Links

Spain aid could be firewall boost, ECB action: France

Related Topics

Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo (L) welcomes his French counterpart Laurent Fabius after his arrival for a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Madrid July 20, 2012. REUTERS/Andrea Comas

Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo (L) welcomes his French counterpart Laurent Fabius after his arrival for a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Madrid July 20, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Andrea Comas

PARIS | Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:01am EDT

PARIS (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Tuesday that further aid for Spain could take the form of an increase in Europe's rescue fund or action by the European Central Bank, though he hoped neither option was necessary.

"I hope it will not be necessary to intervene again," he told France 2 television. "If we have to intervene, it could be an increase in the firewalls ... or interventions by the (European) central bank."

"The president of the central bank has said, and it's a statement that we should not take lightly, that he has no hang-up about interventions."

Worries that Spain may have to appeal for a full-fledged international bailout, on top of its request for 100 billion euros to recapitalize its ailing banks, have pushed Spanish borrowing costs up to euro-era highs in recent days.

(Reporting By Nicholas Vinocur)

Comments (0)
This discussion is now closed. We welcome comments on our articles for a limited period after their publication.