Fighting to prevent an accelerating debt crisis from engulfing Portugal and Spain, Europe's finance ministers approved an 85 billion euro bailout package for Ireland, while also agreeing for the first time to hold private investors accountable for losses in future crises, beginning in 2013. With the European Union engaged in a high-stakes battle with financial markets, the move to include bondholders in any future debt restructuring represents an important milestone in the current crisis because the countries stood together on an issue that had caused sharp divisions in recent weeks. The decision is aimed at ending uncertainty over future rules for the euro zone, made up of the 16 countries that use the euro. Some policymakers had said that a lack of clarity about what would happen when the current bailout provisions ended in 2013 was a contributing factor in the recent market turmoil that led Ireland to ask for aid and that now threatens other countries. 'Europe has shown again it won't shun difficult decisions and will act swiftly, decisively and united to safeguard the financial stability now and in the future,' said Jan Kees de Jager, the Dutch finance minister, referring to both the Irish bailout and the new permanent rescue plan. After a day of meetings on Ireland and other debt issues, euro zone officials agreed that after 2013, bondholders could face losses in future bailouts, but only on a case by case basis, taking into account guidance from the International Monetary Fund and its experience in previous debt crises. This was a caveat that France had advocated as a way to calm investor anxiety. Across Europe, governments have faced a rising tide of anger from taxpayers who are now footing the bill for a crisis created in part by the financial sector. Investors have so far been protected from potential losses resulting from bank failures and government default, both in the bailout of Greece in the spring and in the package of financial measures for Ireland announced on Sunday. Under the agreement reached Sunday, the new, permanent bailout fund for the euro zone would be structured loosely on the current short-term mechanism created in the wake of the bailout of Greece in May. Beginning in 2013, euro zone bonds will include clauses requiring bondholders to accept restructuring measures if necessary. 