France, Germany reach bailout deal

PARIS - An agreement reached between France and Germany on the eve of Thursday's summit on a new bailout for Greece was a prerequisite to ending the eurozone debt crisis, the French government said.

"It was obviously a prerequisite. It won't be enough: Today we still have to convince our partners and work together with our partners," government spokeswoman Valerie Pecresse told France 2 television.

"But the idea of having a common Franco-German position was an essential prerequisite so that today we can find a lasting solution for Greece."