France and Germany have yet to agree on how to bolster the European bailout fund as they seek to overcome technical hurdles and to complete a plan to stem the debt crisis, said a person with direct knowledge of the talks.

The U.K.’s Guardian newspaper reported that the countries have reached agreement on a plan to leverage the fund.

The two countries are working on how to increase the effective power of the European Financial Stability Facility rescue fund, said the person, who declined to be named because the talks are not public. Such a measure needs to be part of a comprehensive agreement to help banks and Greece, the person said.

European leaders have until an Oct. 23 summit to settle differences and flesh out their strategy, they were told by Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers last week in Paris.