EU offers Greece support but not money

European Union leaders have offered Greece moral support, but no money to help the beleaguered nation weather a severe debt crisis.

EU leaders said on Thursday that Greece had not requested financial support. They then called on Athens to push through its proposed budget cuts "in a rigorous and determined manner" by all means necessary. The officials added that they would seek advice from the International Monetary Fund before its assessment of the country's situation in March.

Jose Manuel Barroso, EU President, said, "What is now in consideration was to know two things, the determination of the Greek authorities to face the financial situation there, this is clear, and the solidarity of the member states, namely the euro area member states, to Greece. These two points are extremely clear in the common statement."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Front L), Greek Prime Minister Georgios  Papandreou (C) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (Front R) leave the  EU Council building after a meeting in Brussels, capital of Belgium,  Feb. 11, 2010. An informal summit of European Union leaders on Thursday,  originally called to work on a new economic strategy for the next decade.  (Xinhua/Thierry Monasse)