2011.01.1705:03:00UTC+00Eurozone Ministers To Mull Changes To Rescue Fund

Eurozone finance ministers are set to discuss an increase in the size of the sovereign rescue fund among other options in their latest attempt to quell the region's fiscal crisis.

Ministers will also debate on whether to extend the 440 billion-euro bailout fund's scope to purchase government bonds directly off the market.

That would ease the pressure on the European Central Bank, which has been buying up a substantial amount of sovereign bonds as a form of unconventional monetary policy.

Support for a larger rescue fund has been growing ever since the Irish Republic became the second eurozone country to request a bailout, with fears growing that Portugal and Spain may follow.

On Friday, French economy minister Christine Lagarde admitted an increase in the European Financial Stability Fund was an option being discussed in case more countries needed to be rescued in the future.

But opponents, led by Germany, say a larger rescue fund will fuel further fiscal irresponsibility within the bloc.

Carsten Brzeski, senior economist at ING Bank NV, said a solution to the eurozone's debt problems hinged largely on Berlin's decision-making.

"It is hard to see what the German government actually would like to receive in a possible horse trading [in exchange to agreeing for a larger EFSF]," he said.

"Nevertheless, it looks as if a clear and comprehensive solution for the current sovereign debt crisis will only be found once the German government has made up its mind."