European Union policymakers on Monday stressed the need for a common approach to the financial crisis gripping their countries, but stopped short of suggesting they would resurrect a short-lived proposal to set up an EU-wide bail-out fund for troubled banks.

As finance ministers from the 15-nation eurozone convened in Luxembourg for a regular monthly meeting, several policymakers made plain their irritation at the Irish government’s announcement last week of a blanket deposit guarantee scheme for the country’s six largest banks.