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European Union leaders will lay the groundwork for a financial rescue of Greece at a summit on February 11, but any support is likely to require a big commitment from Athens on getting its economy in order.

Germany and possibly France are expected to take the lead in any aid package the EU draws up to help Greece weather its mounting debt and deficit crisis, although the structure, size, nature and any conditions attached to a deal remain unclear.

Greece's debt problems are not officially on the agenda for one-day summit, but they will be discussed by leaders over lunch with the president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, and a statement is expected afterwards.

The meeting among the EU's 27 leaders, economic advisers, the central bank chief and other senior EU officials is expected to reach a political agreement on helping Greece, while the financial details will be hammered out at meeting of finance ministers in Brussels on February 15.

The summit on February 11, called in January by Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the EU, has become a major focus for financial markets, with Greece facing the threat of a debt default and the EU uncertain about how much or whether to help.

With Athens needing to borrow around EUR53 billion (US$75 billion) this year to cover its deficit and refinance debts, default would have far-reaching repercussions for the euro.

Yields on Greek debt have soared over the past month -- though they have fallen in recent days as the possibility of EU support has increased -- while concerns persist that Greece's problems could spill over to Portugal and Spain.

(Reuters/VOVNews)