Finland has cast doubt on one of the key crisis-response measures agreed at last week’s EU summit – to use eurozone bailout funds more flexibly.

The Finnish government says it has Dutch backing to prevent the eurozone’s new permanent bailout fund – the ESM – from buying bonds in secondary markets.

Under pressure from Italy and Spain the 17 eurozone leaders agreed to ease the mechanism for bond purchases.

Germany’s top court will soon consider legal challenges to the ESM.