The leaders of Germany and France have offered moral support for Greece and sought to tamp down speculation prompted by the Greek debt crisis that is hurting the euro.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said "we stand shoulder to shoulder with Greece" but added she wanted reliable information "about what Greece is actually doing."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy "we wanted to shoulder our responsibility" by offernig political support to Greece. He added, "It is not in our interest to foster whatever speculation some will indulge in."

But EU nations offered no firm financial support for Greece at a summit Thursday. EU leaders said they would seek advice from the International Monetary Fund for an assessment of Greece's situation due in March.