AFP - Leaders of Japan and the European Union called Wednesday for "highly ambitious and binding" global targets to fight climate change, seeking a breakthrough at July's Group of Eight summit.

AFP - Consumer sentiment has jumped in Germany just as other economic indicators show the Europe's biggest economy beginning to feel the pinch of a global slowdown, a widely watched survey showed Monday.

AFP - France may need an early warning on its public finances, the European Commission warned Monday, predicting that the French deficit was slipping dangerously towards an EU limit.

AFP - Unemployment in Germany fell by less than expected in April, official data showed Wednesday, but officials and economists stressed it did not mean economic conditions were worsening.

AFP - Inflation in the 15 countries sharing the euro eased in April off record highs in March but confidence in the economy sank to a the lowest point in two-and-a-half years, EU data showed Wednesday.

AFP - Leading shares in London closed flat on Wednesday, having reversed earlier gains ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision and after better-than-expected US economic data, balanced by weakness among the UK miners.

AFP - French Prime Minister Francois Fillon insisted here Friday that the French and European economies are sound, but that the US economic slowdown will effect Europe's growth.

AFP - Visiting French Prime Minister Francois Fillon insisted here Friday that the French and European economies are sound, but that the US economic slowdown will effect Europe's growth.

Reuters - The dollar and European stocks weakened slightly on Monday in holiday-thinned markets while euro zone government bonds rose after positions became oversold following Friday's better than expected U.S. employment data.

AFP - Ireland's new premier Brian Cowen vowed Wednesday to make winning a crunch EU referendum next month his first priority, immediately after being elected to succeed veteran leader Bertie Ahern.

AP - The European Central Bank and the Bank of England both held their official interest rates steady on Thursday as rising inflation outweighed concerns about slowing economic growth across the European Union.

AFP - As EU newcomer Bulgaria aims to attract ever larger flows of foreign investment, authorities and analysts have raised fears that part of the money streaming into the country may have been laundered.

AFP - Evidence grew on Tuesday that Germany is headed for a period of weaker growth after a flying start to the year saw Europe's largest economy beat forecasts by a country mile.

Reuters - The European Commission called on India on Tuesday to go further with its plans to open up its economy to European exports under a planned bilateral trade deal between the two trade powers.