Eurozone finance ministers meet Thursday with budget hardliners demanding more from Greece, Spain set to request a rescue of its banks, and Cyprus the latest victim of Europe's debt crisis.

As the two-year drama gathers pace, the Eurogroup meets in Luxembourg from 14:00 GMT for a likely late-night battle on the Greek and Spanish fronts, as well as talks on Italy's soaring borrowing costs and a Cypriot cry for help.

The talks come on the eve of a mini-summit in Rome of the leaders of the  eurozone's big four - Germany, France, Italy and Spain - expected to dissect a plan for the eurozone rescue fund to intervene more easily on bond markets.

[AFP]