Eurozone finance ministers gave unemployment-ridden Spain more wiggle room in cutting its big deficit, signalling that new, tighter rules against overspending in the currency union retain some flexibility for hard-hit countries.

THERE was something for everyone, with a little more for the banks and less for the taxpayer, in the deal that emerged from the 10 hours of negotiations by eurozone leaders at the euro summit on Thursday.

EU leaders were accused of just buying time and not resolving the Greek debt problem, amid warnings that their agreement reached in Brussels last night will keep the spotlight on the euro and on weaker countries like Ireland.