MUNICH — Despite huge rescue packages, interest-rate spreads in Europe refuse to budge. Markets have not yet found their equilibrium, and the governments on Europe's southwestern rim are nervously watching how events unfold. What is going on?

The rescue packages were put together on the weekend of May 8-9 in Brussels. In addition to the 80 billion euro program already agreed for Greece, the European Union countries agreed on a 500 billion euro credit line for other distressed countries. The International Monetary Fund added a further 280 billion euro.

The driving force behind all this was French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who colluded with the heads of Europe's southern countries. French banks, which were overly exposed to southern European government bonds, were key beneficiaries of the rescue packages.