MADRID — Greece did not request financial help at a meeting today of all 16 countries that use the euro in Madrid, officials said.

Greece's mounting debt and high cost of borrowings have forced it to ask for standby loans of at least euro 30 billion from other euro nations and the International Monetary Fund.

The government has called in EU and IMF officials for Athens talks on Monday but insists that this is not a signal that it will formally request a bailout within days.

Greece had an opportunity to trigger the financial lifeline at the Madrid talks between eurozone finance ministers this morning — but did not use it.

"I can confirm that the Greek authorities didn't put forward a request and any indication that the Greek authorities would do so," said Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the group of eurozone finance ministers.

Germany's deputy finance minister Joerg Asmussen said a Greek bailout would need the unanimous support of the leaders of all eurozone nations — which could require an emergency summit.

Finance ministers from all 27 EU countries are holding two days of talks today and Saturday following a separate meeting between eurozone nations.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaueble — who did not attend the meeting due to illness — told a radio network that he believed Greece may not need the financial lifeline agreed by eurozone countries last Sunday.

"We still believe that the Greeks are on the right road, and that in the end they perhaps won't need to take up the aid at all," he said.