EU official calls for concrete deal on aid for Greece

BRUSSELS, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) top economic official called on Friday for a concrete deal at a summit next week on possible aid for Greece amid its debt crisis.

"It is important that the EU in the course of next week comes to a more specific conclusion, specific political conclusion about the European framework for coordinated and conditional action, if needed and required," EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn told reporters.

EU leaders were scheduled to meet in Brussels on March 25-26, with the Greek debt crisis set to top the agenda.

Rehn said it was important for the EU to politically conclude work that had been done.

At a monthly meeting earlier this week, EU finance ministers agreed on technical arrangements on how to aid Greece if necessary, leaving the final decision on a detailed plan to EU leaders.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said on Thursday his country would resort to help from the International Monetary Fund if it failed to receive a concrete aid promise in Europe.