The administrative seat of the EU is also a fun, beautiful city of elegant restaurants, splendid architecture and museums, says Tony Clayton-Lea.

The business end of the Champions League has been less sweet 16 and more a knockout for England’s elite this week, another chastening trial for the self-styled ‘greatest league in the world’. 

In 2014, European car sales rose for the first time in seven years as buyers replaced aging vehicles with low-cost ones. The market’s revival from a two-decade low is set to continue in 2015.

Eurozone manufacturing and services activity weakened in June amid a further slowdown in France’s economy, underscoring the fragility of recovery in the 18-nation region.

European Central Bank president Mario Draghi said officials are seeing progress in lending as a slump in credit eases and surveys signal improvement in loan demands.

Ireland has a flat rate of inflation, the latest European figures show.

Germany’s Finance Minister has visited Greece amid massive police security, insisting there was “no convenient short cut” for the country’s bailout programme.

Croatia is unlikely to need a eurozone bailout as its finances have been closely scrutinised in the last 10 years, the country’s prime minister has said.

THERE are three reasons why a managed exit by Ireland from the eurozone is the most urgent economic priority. But first consider this reality.

The IMF forecasts growth to reach 3.5% this year and a more robust 4.1% next year.

The IMF forecasts growth to reach 3.5% this year and a more robust 4.1% next year. However, conditions in the eurozone will remain challenging with the economy expected to contract by 0.2% before posting a modest growth rate of 1% next year, according to the Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook.

Stocks edged higher today on Wall Street after a strong sales report from McDonald's offset concerns about the surprise resignation announcement of Italy's Prime Minister.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will hold talks with the German chancellor today for the first time since they caused chaos and confusion over a bank deal on legacy debt.

From an economic and social perspective, unemployment represents one of the greatest evils besetting the Irish economy and indeed many other international economies at the moment.

Unemployment across the Eurozone was at a record 11.2% in June.

The Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy says it's unlikely that Greece will remain in the euro zone.

Glenn Whelan has seen the pictures of canines painted green, white and gold.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said the EU wants Greece to remain part of the European family.

One of the points of information used for advocating water charges is that Ireland is the only OECD country whose citizens do not pay directly for water use.

Unemployment in the 17 countries that use the euro hit its highest level since the currency was introduced back in 1999 official figures showed yesterday, adding to fears that the region is back in recession.

Unemployment in the 17 countries using the euro has hit its highest since the currency was introduced in 1999, adding to fears the region is back in recession.

Up to 20,000 Irish fans set to travel to Euro 2012 have been warned they risk contracting a list of potentially lethal diseases in the tournament’s host nations unless adequate medical precautions are taken.

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso called today for an end to the “constant drama” about the single currency.

THEY may not admit it, but right now, financial managers in many firms are hedging their bets, and are busy trying to construct scenarios to assess just how the world might look in the event of a break up of the euro zone.

The European Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso has warned that the eurozone is threatened by a "systemic crisis".

THE credit ratings of two top British banks were cut yesterday due to the likelihood of less state support in a future crisis, as Britain sought to reassure investors its banks were well capitalised and able to cope with a European debt crisis.

CONSUMERS remained cautiously optimistic in August despite a wave of global turmoil that hit consumer sentiment in the US and Europe.

A new report from the European Commission shows that car prices in Ireland experienced the third largest drop in the Eurozone last year.

Friends First has issued a snapshot of the current state of the Irish economy and its view on efforts the new Government should take to rebuild our reputation.

Portugal’s government could collapse today after opposition parties withdrew their support for another round of austerity policies aimed at averting a financial bailout.

Royal Ascot is not likely to be on Kinsale King’s agenda again as trainer Carl O’Callaghan ponders other targets after his defence of Saturday’s Dubai Golden Shaheen.

IRELAND will be allowed to retain its 12.5% corporation tax rate, but is under pressure in bailout talks to give fewer tax breaks to foreign multinationals, say EU sources.

HOUSE prices in Ireland were only modestly overvalued over the past few years, according to an EU report on eurozone property.

Footfall in the Republic for the second quarter of 2010 has decreased by 1.7% compared to the same period last year, according to a new study.

THE European Commission is increasing pressure on member states to accept much tighter surveillance on their national budgets at EU level.

THE Government may introduce taxes on real estate and water usage to help narrow the widest budget deficit in the euro region, Energy Minister Eamon Ryan said.

Europe's debt crisis mushroomed today as Spain had its credit rating lowered, just as Germany tried to reassure nervous investors that Greece's economy would not be allowed to go under.

As the controversial row over public pay cuts continues, Fine Gael today called for a wage freeze until 2010.

THE continuing decline in Irish and European manufacturing has led for fresh demands on the European Central Bank to cut interest rates further.

The FTSE 100 Index dived more than 2% for the second successive session today as a fresh wave of economic gloom hit stocks.

The Europe-wide tax cut proposed by France to combat soaring fuel prices received a cool reception from other countries today.

Crude oil prices rose to a new record above $114 (€71) a barrel today as investors opted for commodities over a weaker dollar.

The country’s largest union, SIPTU, today agreed to enter talks on a new national wage agreement amid warnings that pay cannot chase inflation as the economy slows.

European Union finance ministers meet today to talk about reforming social welfare systems with Europe’s workers facing a growing burden from the pensions and health care costs of older people.