Rappler's latest stories on Europe economy
EU chief makes bid to break recovery fund deadlock
Finland, Sweden, Hungary, and the Netherlands all voice concerns over the European Union's proposed 750-billion-euro fund to recover from the coronavirus pandemic's economic impact

Merkel calls for swift agreement on EU virus package
'Our common objective is to find a quick agreement as time is running out due to the economic crisis. We must not waste time. The poorest are paying the price,' says German Chancellor Angela Merkel

EU sees eurozone economy crashing 8.7% in 2020
'The economic impact of the lockdown is more severe than we initially expected,' says European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis

ECB's Lagarde says 'we've probably passed lowest point' of economic crisis
'We probably have passed the lowest point. I say that with some trepidation because of course there could be a severe second wave,' says European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde

ECB ramps up eurozone support as pandemic persists
The European Central Bank announces 600 billion euros ($674 billion) more of emergency bond-buying and the scheme's extension until June 2021

'Starting point': EU's frugal members cool on recovery plan
Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden want emergency help for countries badly hit by the coronavirus to take the form of one-off loans

Battle ahead for EU's massive virus recovery plan
If passed, this proposal would be the biggest European Union stimulus package in history. But Germany predicts talks would drag on until the end of 2020.

ECB warns virus response could renew fears of euro breakup
The European Central Bank reiterates that more joint action at the European level could keep government debt sustainable for individual nations

Macron, Merkel agree 500-billion-euro virus recovery plan for Europe
The Merkel-Macron plan now faces a potentially painful negotiation with all 27 member states of the European Union and then a vote in European Parliament

Euro ministers back crisis credit, split on next steps
A plan to allot 240 billion euros ($260 billion) for credit lines gets approval from eurozone ministers

How will European tourism survive the virus?
Here are immediate questions for Europe's tourism industry as it reels from the coronavirus pandemic

Europe's 'historic' recession threatens eurozone survival
The European Union estimates that the eurozone economy would shrink by 7.7% in 2020, a 'recession of historic proportions'

ECB stands firm after shock German ruling on bond buying
In a shock ruling, Germany's Constitutional Court gives the European Central Bank 3 months to clarify key elements of its support to the eurozone

Europe races to shield virus-hit firms from bargain hunters
European Union nations seek to bolster their defenses against hostile takeovers that could see key technologies and know-how being lost to countries like China and the United States

ECB eases bank risk capital requirements to calm markets
The European Central Bank says it is 'responding to the extraordinary levels of volatility recorded in financial markets since the outbreak of the coronavirus'

EU aims to bar 'predatory' takeovers of weakened firms
A statement from European Union trade ministers does not identify potential threats, but participants later make it clear China is the main source of concern

IMF says eurozone economy will crash in 2020
The International Monetary Fund expects the eurozone economy to crash by a staggering 7.5%, a free fall not seen since the 1930s Great Depression

Brussels eyes 1.5-trillion-euro virus recovery fund
The European Commission is 'working on new financing instruments' to fight the 'unprecedented' coronavirus pandemic

The EU's 500-billion-euro coronavirus emergency deal
Here's what European Union finance ministers agreed on during a crunch meeting on their economic response to the coronavirus pandemic

EU finance ministers agree on coronavirus rescue deal
The package agreed is worth about 500 billion euros ($546 billion), short of what many observers believe is necessary to restart the European economy when the health crisis recedes

EU rescue talks fail as Netherlands blocks virus compromise
Bickering European Union finance ministers are unable to bridge differences on how to rebuild their economies

ECB eases bank funding rules in 'unprecedented' step
This is the European Central Bank's latest move to keep cash flowing through the financial system as the coronavirus pandemic batters the global economy

EU inches towards economic virus plan after infighting
Here is a summary of the ideas being talked about ahead of a crunch meeting of European Union finance ministers on Tuesday, April 7

U.S., eurozone output to crash in Q2 2020 – Fitch
Fitch Ratings says it does not see US and EU gross domestic product returning to pre-coronavirus levels until late 2021

ECB asks banks to halt dividends over virus crisis
The European Central Bank urges banks to lend to households and businesses during the coronavirus pandemic

Italy papers slam 'Ugly Europe' over delayed economic plan
There is strong criticism in Italy as the European Union has yet to agree on a unified economic response to the coronavirus pandemic

Eurozone given 2 weeks to find economic response to virus
European countries have yet to agree on a unified way to cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus

Britain, eurozone face 2% recession in 2020 – S&P
S&P says a 2% recession for Britain and the eurozone would amount to a loss in real GDP of about 420 billion euros ($460 billion) in 2020

EU warns virus could expose firms to foreign buyouts
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says 'critical assets and technologies' must be protected

EU finance ministers split on coronavirus rescue plan
Italy, with the backing of France and Spain, wants a massive response from European Union partners. But northern countries, led by Germany and the Netherlands, are not in a hurry.

Coronavirus sparks 'unprecedented collapse' in eurozone economy
Figures show a slump in eurozone activity in March 2020 'far exceeding that seen even at the height of the global financial crisis'

EU ministers suspend budget rules to fight virus impact
The escape clause will allow European Union countries to spend without limit on medical equipment, enforcing containment measures, and expanding hospitals

ECB says banks now have extra 1.8 trillion euros to lend in virus fight
The European Central Bank eases rules to free up more funds that financial institutions can use for loans to households and corporate customers

ECB brings 750-billion-euro bazooka to virus fightback
The European Central Bank's Pandemic Emergency Purchase Program involves buying government and corporate bonds to keep liquidity flowing

ECB rushes to clear up Lagarde stumble on virus response
Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, comes under fire for the ECB's response to the novel coronavirus

Chiding governments, European Central Bank brings big guns to virus fight
The European Central Bank launches a flurry of measures to cushion the impact of the coronavirus, including increased bond purchases and cheap loans to banks

Out of ammo? European Central Bank on the spot in coronavirus fightback
Critics question how much more the European Central Bank can do to deal with the economic impact of the novel coronavirus

Coronavirus is 'new layer of uncertainty' for European economy
European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde's remarks place the novel coronavirus on the same level of menace to growth as trade tensions and geopolitical flashpoints

IMF cuts 2019, 2020 eurozone growth outlook as Germany lags
The International Monetary Fund says Germany, Europe's biggest economy, is laid low by a slumping auto market

Why is eurozone inflation so persistently low?
Here s how oil prices exchange rates wages and corporate investment affect inflation

Eurozone unemployment at lowest since August 2011
Unemployment in the 19 nation eurozone drops to 10 3 in January 2016

Greece seeks eurozone nod but bailout deal ruled out
Unfortunately there is not sufficient progress to reach a decision today whatever it is says Germany s powerful finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble as he went into talks with his Greek counterpart Yanis Varoufakis

IMF's Lagarde defends Europe in heated Davos debate
There is a general expectation to compare the US economy and the euro area and I don t think that s a reality says IMF chief Christine Lagarde

Europe tightens up financial market rules
After 2 long years of negotiations the European Parliament agrees on new market regulators
Merkel steels Germans for 'more difficult' 2013
In fact the economic environment next year will not be easier but more difficult The crisis is a long way from being beaten Germany s Merkel said in her New Year address
New French government to hand itself a pay cut
Francois Hollande unveiled a government of mainly moderate Socialists and longtime allies Wednesday as his new prime minister vowed to work quickly to put the country back on its feet