France fell back into recession in the first quarter of the year, experiencing a 0.2 per cent contraction in GDP
 in the first three months of the year
, in line with the previous quarter.

GDP fell by 0.2%

France’s President Francois Hollande (left) speaks with Mali’s interim President Dioncounda Traore at the Donor Conference  in Brussels. Photograph: Reuters

The European Union pledged an extra €520 million to the north African country over the next two years

François Hollande: much anticipated visit to Brussels coincided with the release of new economic data which showed that France has entered recession for the second time in four years. Laurent Dubrule/Reuters

European Commission urges France to speed up enactment of structural reforms

People in Cyprus continue to face restrictions on the amount of money they are permitted to withdraw from bank accounts. Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

Europe Letter: diverging views about banking union reflect broader issues for Europe as a whole

Agreement will allow final negotiations with European Parliament

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan rings the bell prior to an economic and financial affairs meeting yesterday, at the EU headquarters in Brussels.

Setting tax rates is a matter for sovereign countries, Minister says in Brussels

British chancellor George Osborne: likely to argue that countries should be given discretion on how to apply the bail-in rules. Photograph: PA

In a packed agenda, the big challenge at today’s meeting will be political discussion on bank resolution and recovery

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan with Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem (left) and EU commissioner Olli Rehn in Brussels yesterday. Photograph: AP

Minister suggests Ireland may avail of the ECB’s outright monetary transactions facility before it exits bailout

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton yesterday  held the first formal negotiations with the European Parliament on the seven-year Multiannual Financial Framework in Brussels. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Britain, Denmark and the Netherlands resist budget disbursement increase

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