Many officials still privately believe Greece will fail to honour its commitments and that the country will need either a third bailout or will be allowed to default.

BBC: EU fiscal summit: Hope comes to the eurozone

European Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly said the EU expected Italy to "honour its commitments" on debt and deficit reduction, and other structural reform, saying he understood the "concern expressed by Italian citizens".

BBC: Italy election: Nation in dramatic situation - Bersani

He said that he believed the IRA would honour its commitments on disarmament, but he questioned unionist motives for demanding movement on the issue when the "Shankill Road resembles the Wild West" because of an ongoing feud between loyalist paramitaries.

BBC: 'NI agreement could be destroyed'

President Anibal Cavaco Silva said after the talks that the coalition government should remain in office and that the country should honour its international commitments.

BBC: Union protest in Lisbon, 22 March

If Japan's workers cannot shoulder their burden, the country will find itself unable to honour fully its pension and health-care commitments.

ECONOMIST: The future of Japan