Cost of Lisbon bail-out put at €80bn / Lisbon still sketchy on details of help needed

Eurozone finance ministers discussed Portugal's bailout plea on the 8 April 2011 and approved sending an immediate EU-IMF mission to Lisbon to start negotiating the terms of the deal.

There was some doubt about whether Portugal's caretaker government could agree to the austerity measures that would be a prerequisite for the loans.

The Guardian, 8.4.11: Portugal gets offer it can't refuse (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/589901-portugal-gets-offer-it-cant-refuse

Deutsche Welle, 8.4.11: Portuguese bailout comes together at eurozone finance meeting http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14975240,00.html

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/11/227: Statement by the Eurogroup and ECOFIN Ministers http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/227&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

EUObserver, 8.4.11: EU: All Portuguese parties must back bailout-austerity package http://euobserver.com/9/32149

Deutsche Welle, 9.4.11: EU expects more Portugal austerity as unions march in protest http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14978683,00.html

ESO: Background information: Sócrates calls for Portuguese bail-out http://www.europeansources.info/record/socrates-calls-for-portuguese-bail-out/

ESO: Background information: The euro crisis: Key sources http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-euro-crisis-key-sources/

IMF: Portugal and the IMF http://www.imf.org/external/country/prt/index.htm

European Commission: DG Economic and Financial Affairs: EU Economic Situation: Economies of the EU Member States: Portugal http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/eu/countries/portugal_en.htm

EUObserver, 7.4.11: Portugal has ‘no time’ to settle democratic mandate concerns http://euobserver.com/9/32141

EurActiv, 8.4.11: First EU payout to Portugal ready before June elections http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/euro-zone-ministers-discuss-portugals-call-aid-news-503905

BBC News, 8.4.11: Portugal bail-out: EU aims for mid-May completion http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13009669

EUObserver, 8.4.11: Portugal contests Germany on 'fully fledged' austerity programme http://euobserver.com/9/32145

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