Before UK prime minister Theresa May surprised markets with a snap general election, 2017 was already the year of political risk for Europe.

Driving through Sophia Antipolis, France’s Silicon Valley on the Riviera, there was a strong welcome for the news Emmanuel Macron had topped the poll in the first round of the presidential elections.

Liberals have taken heart from Emmanuel Macron’s early showing in the French presidential elections, but they shouldn’t get carried away, writes Mark J Roe.

Further evidence has emerged that the economy in the 19-country eurozone moved up a gear or two in the early months of the year.

CRH is expected to make another large-scale acquisition some time next year as its cash generation improves and debt levels continue to decline.

Greetings from a sunny Paris — and thus not Turf Moor — where your correspondent is covering the French presidential election.

The prospects for the Government securing more than €3bn from its sale of AIB shares could brighten this weekend if French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen polls poorly in the first round of presidential elections, according to analysts.

European shares rose and US stocks hit record highs yesterday, helped by corporate results, while uncertainty about French elections pushed the euro to its biggest loss in about three weeks.

Brexit, the Donald Trump presidency and a rise in isolated terrorist attacks were some of the shocks that investors faced in 2016, writes Ryan McGrath.

Josh Lowe, Owen Matthews and Matt McAllester examine what’s happening in Europe to try to understand what’s behind the emergence and spread of the current global populist revolt

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

AS the world tried to remake itself after World War II idealists — even some hard-bitten leaders in victorious regimes — argued that a world government was the only way a sustained peace might be secured. 

Prime Minister David Cameron will meet US presidential candidate Mitt Romney when he visits London later this week, Downing Street confirmed today.

Greek and French votes have chosen a change in their leaders but the markets still seem in total control, writes Paddy Woodworth

When Irish finance ministers are smiling

Nicolas Sarkozy will make a last-ditch bid tonight to turn the tide against his rival Francois Hollande when they go head-to-head in the French presidential election's only television debate.

Fine Gael was accused of threatening the electorate by claiming that a no vote in the fiscal treaty referendum would result in harsher budgets and young emigrants being “marooned abroad” for years to come.

A win by François Hollande in next week’s French presidential election should be seen as an “invitation” to Ireland to say yes to the Fiscal Compact treaty, according to a former adviser to his Socialist party.

There has been no satisfactory response from Government about suggestions that the referendum on the EU fiscal pact be deferred.

IN setting a record score for the far right in Sunday’s French presidential election, Marine Le Pen has set the stage for her National Front to try and break into parliament at a legislative election in June.

While the final battle for the French presidency is fought over the next two weeks, the outcome will be closely watched by those advocating a yes vote in the forthcoming referendum on the EU treaty.

The Government faces having to sell a yes vote on the EU fiscal treaty without trade union support after two more unions representing 100,000 workers recommended members vote no in the May 31 referendum.

The gunman wanted for shooting seven people dead plans to turn himself in to French police surrounding him at night “to be more discreet,” the Interior Minister says.

SINCE 1764 pundits attempt to accurately predict Ireland’s events of each New Year. Best known of these is Old Moore’s Almanac, established by Theophilus Moore, a clerical academic from Milltown, Dublin.

Nick Clegg today urged critics not to exploit the eurozone crisis to foster “xenophobia, chauvinism and polarisation” as doubts were cast on political efforts to save the single currency.

INCREASED beef imports from South America are off the table for now, said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney last week, bringing more good news to cattle farmers enjoying high prices.

Paris prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into accusations by a French writer that former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her.

TWO French women are filing legal complaints against a junior government minister they accuse of sexual harassment, apparently encouraged to speak up after the recent arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn on sex crime charges.

The IMF board has said no decision has been made on the future of its chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

People could be forgiven for believing the centuries-old feud between Britain and France was about to be ended by the son of a Hungarian ad salesman who officially takes over as President of France today.

WHAT promises to be the closest general election contest in years gets under way in earnest today following yesterday’s dissolution of the 29th Dáil by President Mary McAleese.

THE EU Constitution has been put on hold awaiting the outcome of the French presidential election but the four main candidates have been careful to avoid any major debate with the public on the issue.

France has entered what was likely to be a bitter final campaign week before a national referendum on the European Union’s constitution, with polls showing undecided voters could make or break the neck-and-neck race.

A French secret service estimate that made its way into journalists’ e-mails in Paris last Friday said that Jean-Marie Le Pen could get 41% of the vote in the French presidential election on Sunday.

A furious war of words erupted between nationalists at Stormont today after an SDLP minister claimed the French presidential election should serve as a reminder to those alarmed at the prospect of further Sinn Fein and DUP gains at the ballot box.