CAMBRIDGE, England - April 11, 2010 - The eurozone area and wider European Union is now “on the brink” of disintegration unless Germany steps up and provides loans at below-market rates to Greece, George Soros, the hedge fund manager, has warned.

However, Soros added that he still hoped that Germany and others would be willing to forge a last-minute solution, since the consequence of a break-up would be so dangerous. He was speaking before an announcement on Sunday afternoon by eurozone finance ministers of the terms of a support package for Greece.