Dec. 7 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said he’s encouraged by the “progress” euro area governments are making on ending the region’s sovereign debt crisis and that he’s “confident” they will succeed.

Geithner endorsed the idea of a “fiscal compact” between euro countries. He spoke to reporters in Paris after meeting with French Finance Minister Francois Baroin.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ian Katz in Washington at ikatz2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Deen at markdeen@bloomberg.net