Brussels, 23/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - Germany is looking into setting up a Stability, Growth and Investment Fund to protect stability in the eurozone after 2013. With a similar level of independence as the European Central Bank, the fund would have unlimited refinancing powers to help out struggling eurozone countries but subject to strict conditions, explained German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung on Thursday 23 December 2011. A national government requesting aid from the fund would have to provide serious guarantees like gold reserves or other finances. These ideas might be submitted at the first meeting of Eurogroup under the Hungarian Presidency on Monday 17 January. The paper says that Germany and four other Member States (Finland, France, Ireland and the Netherlands) are planning to submit joint proposal's the German authorities immediately distanced themselves from the reports. Last week, the European Council confirmed the creation of a permanent post-2013 eurozone crisis management mechanism to ensure a lender of last resort for the eurozone (see EUROPE 10280), a decision that will require changes to be made to the Lisbon Treaty. (M.B. trans fl)