Labor Minister of France Michel Sapin called his country a “bankrupt,” which inflicted considerable damage to the already tarnished reputation of President Hollande. The Minister later explained that he meat it ironically, but his black humor was not appreciated. The more so that bankruptcy (due to the situation in Mali and financial problems) may become a reality for France in the near... 

Catalan separatist merchandise is displayed at a stall in Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain. The parliament of Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia has approved a declaration of the region’s sovereignty as a major step towards its independence from Spain. The non-binding resolution was passed on Wednesday by 85 votes in favor, 41 against, and two abstentions, the Associated Press reported. The... 

Recently, the government of Iceland suspended talks on a possible accession of the country to the EU. As noted by the media, it had to do with a rather complex political situation. Many believe that in the next election the Independence Party that opposes the idea of joining the EU may come to power. The elections in Iceland are scheduled for April. Not that long ago the world media announced that... 

Greek lawmakers have approved a new tax legislation intended to increase government revenues by 2.3 billion-euro (3 billion USD) in the following months. The new tax bill was approved with the support of the majority of the lawmakers in the 300-member parliament early on Saturday. The new legislation aims to tax any income above 42,000 euros (56,000 USD) per year at 42 percent. The passage of the... 

A senior German official, and a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, has warned British Prime Minister David Cameron against blackmailing the EU by an in-out referendum on the union that could be disastrous to both London and Brussels. Chair of Germany’s European affairs committee Gunther Krichbaum, who is visiting Britain at the helm of a high-level German parliamentary delegation warned that... 

Eurozone jobless rate hits new record at 11.8 percent in November 2012. Official data show the unemployment rate in the eurozone has hit a new record in November, 2012, as the 17-nation bloc continues to grapple with worsening financial crisis. According to official figures, the jobless rate for November reached 11.8 percent, up from 11.7 percent in October. November comes as the eurozone’s 19th... 

The days of the 75-watt incandescent light bulbs seem to be numbered. Stores may sell their existing stock, but January 2nd’s new federal law is preparing to phase out production and importation. Forty- and 60-watt incandescent bulbs will face the same slow death next year. The government is instead favoring fluorescent bulbs including CFLs, or compact fluorescent light, for the bulbs’ ability... 

Spaniards protest against austerity measures in the capital Madrid, December 17, 2012. A jobless Spanish man has died at a hospital after setting himself on fire, only two days after another Spaniard self-immolated on social and economic grounds. The 63-year-old man, who suffered from financial problems, died in the Carlos Haya hospital in the southern city of Malaga on Friday. Police officials issued... 

The Euro logo outside the headquarters of the European Central Bank, Frankfurt am Main Germany. Manufacturing sectors in France and other eurozone countries have entered 2013 in a downward trend as new data shows a decrease in demand of orders. Contractions of manufacturing in the eurozone in December included all top four economies in the bloc, according to Markit’s manufacturing Purchasing Managers’... 

Recently, high-ranking EU officials provided the answer to the question about the gap between fiction and real life. It was discovered that children’s stories have a negative impact on the brain of the European kids when they use the word “negro.” This is not a curse word, but the kids are not supposed to know it. Many generations of Germans have been apologizing for the tortured... 

Flavoured cigarettes, including menthol, strawberry, or vanilla, are set to be banned in the European Union. The EU health commissioner also wants to make pictorial warnings occupy 75 per cent of the pack. ­The draft legislation on measures to curb smoking were unveiled on Wednesday. However, they still need to be approved by EU governments and the European parliament, which could take up to three... 

Demonstrators hold “No” signs while surrounding the Spanish parliament to protest against spending cuts in Madrid. The Spanish parliament has adopted a 39-billion-euro (52-billion-US dollar) austerity package as the debt-ridden eurozone country battles to reduce its budget deficit. On Thursday, the lawmakers voted for the cuts in the 2013 budget, which slashes spending for health care and education,... 

EU leaders have called on their foreign ministers to consider all options to support the Syrian opposition and put pressure on the Syrian leadership. It comes as the Syrian FM blames sanctions for the country’s humanitarian crisis, asking for UN aid. “Nothing is off the table,” British PM David Cameron warned during the recent EU summit, sending a message to President Assad and urging for an... 

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton (L) and Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The European Union is infuriated by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s analogy between Tel Aviv’s policies toward the Palestinians and Europe’s stance toward the Jews during the World War II era. Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine... 

A crane completes a section of the Israeli regime’s separation barrier in Jerusalem, December 5, 2012. The European Union will consider passing a series of sanctions on the Israeli regime over its plan to construct thousands more illegal settler units on the occupied Palestinian land, a report says. The Israeli daily Maariv reported on Thursday that the EU move next week would include marking and...