The Belgian finance minister, Didier Reynders, said, "We are committed in all European states to recapitalize banks if we establish a threat to solvency and a risk to the economy."

"The goal is to kick-start the interbank lending market," he said.

Mr. Reynders said the European Central Bank had also committed to helping to unfreeze the commercial paper market, which companies use to finance day-to-day operations.