BBC News
May 24, 2012
Europe is divided and uncertain and the euro - at least initially - has fallen to a 22-month low against the dollar.
Its leaders spoke for six hours but the decisions have been put off until another summit at the end of June. This was an informal dinner "without taboos" but Europe may not be granted the time to talk rather than act.
Greece was not formally on the agenda but it overshadowed the meeting.
The leaders pledged to do everything to keep Greece in the eurozone but as Chancellor Merkel said: "We expect them to stick to their commitments."
There was no new strategy to stop Greece leaving if it votes for candidates in the forthcoming election who oppose the austerity measures that are the condition for the bailouts.
There was an ill-defined offer to divert some EU structural funds to Athens in order to boost growth.
Quite deliberately, European leaders want the Greeks to realise they could end up outside the euro and that this prospect will give them pause for thought. There are some indications that this strategy might be working.
In the meantime countries are advised to make contingency plans for a Greek exit, in particular how to protect the banking sector.
In Brussels the working assumption is that Greece will remain in the eurozone but privately officials say they will have to try to make any departure orderly if it happens.
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