
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and his counterpart from Madrid said Spain’s borrowing costs don’t reflect the strength of its economy as they pledged to work toward deeper integration to fight the debt crisis.

President Francois Hollande marked Bastille Day (July 14) celebrations with a pledge to fight industrial layoffs and clean up French politics, after watching troops parade down the Champs Elysees as jets streamed the national colours overhead.

President Francois Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron tried Tuesday to shake off a rocky start to their relationship despite lingering differences over the Euro zone crisis.

British Prime Minister David Cameron cheekily declared that Britain would open its door wide to France's rich if they flee abroad from steep tax hikes proposed by the new French government.

French President Francois Hollande has proposed a 120 billion Euro growth pact ahead of key talks with Euro zone leaders, newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche reported on Sunday.

Socialist President François Hollande looked set to consolidate his grip on power with a left-wing majority in parliament after a first-round vote on Sunday, and may be able to govern without relying on hard leftists hostile to closer European integration

The latest opinion polls released ahead of France's parliamentary election on Sunday suggest President Francois Hollande will win a narrow but workable majority that depends on Green allies and hard leftists.

Despite their differences over how to drag Europe out of its current economic swamp, German and French leaders pledged to join efforts in reinvigorating growth in the continent during their first meeting on Tuesday.

An exit of Greece from the Euro zone could cost the French taxpayer up to 66.4 billion Euros and saddle the country's banking system with 20 billion Euros in lost loans, according to a study published on Tuesday.

France's economy stalled in the first quarter as household consumption flat lined, businesses pared back investment and exports slowed, underlining the challenge facing Socialist President Francois Hollande who took office on Tuesday.