EU’s Rehn backs euro zone meeting on Greece

European Union Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said he backed a proposal to hold a euro zone meeting on Thursday to discuss Greece's debt problems before an EU summit.

Asked about the possible involvement of the International Monetary Fund, he reiterated at a news conference on Wednesday that the executive European Commission preferred any solution to Athens' problems to be led by Europe.

"The Commission's view is that we prefer a euro area facility for a European problem and there needs to be a European lead and policy conditionality decided by the euro area member states," Rehn said.

"I call on euro area member states to indeed seek such a agreement this week to show the euro area is able to manage such a serious situation we are currently facing," he said.