France and Italy unveiled plans yesterday to trim their deficits more than previously planned in last-minute pitches to get clemency from the European Commission on their 2015 budgets.

Ireland will have a list of investment-ready infrastructure projects ready to benefit from a €300bn EU fund, and could be willing to guarantee loans made to SMEs, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said.

A major battle has kicked off in the EU over just how austere budgets should be in the future with Ireland in a minority in the European People’s Party looking for much greater flexibility.

Finnish prime minister Jyrki Katainen was unhurt after a man tried to attack him with a knife.

A knifeman has tried to stab Finland’s Prime Minister while he was out campaigning.

Investors have reacted warily to comments by Spain’s prime minister that he will not accept certain conditions in return for a European Central Bank (ECB) proposal to buy Spanish government bonds.

EUROZONE ministers pressed ahead last night with plans to make Greece’s private creditors share the costs of a second aid package amid European Central Bank (ECB) warnings that any coercive solutions could unleash a new wave of contagion.

Finnish voters dealt a blow to Europe’s plans to rescue Portugal and other debt-ridden economies, ousting the pro-bailout government and giving a major boost to a Eurosceptic nationalist party.

Finland’s foreign minister was sacked today after being caught sending scores of text messages to an erotic dancer.