The eurozone would impose "very tough conditions" on Spain in exchange for any potential bailout, Jean-Claude Juncker, head of eurozone finance ministers, said Tuesday.
"We will put very tough conditions to Spain, but it would not be right... to tell the Spanish in advance through the press what we expect from them," he told Bayrischer Rundfunk, according to a statement released by the regional television station.
Spain faces a key test of investor confidence Thursday when it auctions key 10-year government bonds.
Madrid is hoping to take advantage of a fall in its borrowing costs since the European Central Bank detailed plans earlier this month to buy the bonds of struggling eurozone countries like Spain that submit to strict economic conditions.
But ECB intervention is dependent on Spain asking for help via the region's bailout fund -- a step it appears reluctant to take, particularly if bond yields remain at affordable levels.
Nevertheless, investors believe that a worsening recession and looming debt repayments including about 30 billion euros in October would force Spain to soon seek a full-blown bailout.