MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy refused to be drawn Thursday on whether his government would tap a new European Central Bank program designed to keep a lid on the borrowing costs of the euro’s more indebted countries.

During a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Rajoy declined to comment on whether Spain would make an official request for the ECB help, which would be subject to conditions and likely-monitored by the International Monetary Fund.