European officials will forge ahead today with crafting a long-term plan to tackle the region’s debt crisis, as banking and government negotiators continue trying to reach an agreement that will lighten Greece ({GDBR10)’s debt burden. European Union finance ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss new budget rules, a financial firewall to protect indebted states and a Greek debt swap, with EU leaders racing to cobble together a firm rescue response in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, cash-strapped Greece and private bondholders said they had made progress in talks over the weekend in Athens. As investors ignored this ... (full story)