Paul AmesDecember 14, 2012 14:10

BRUSSELS — European Union leaders have agreed to give the European Central Bank sweeping new powers to supervise the continent's banks and finally approved a $64 billion slice of bailout money for Greece during a two-day summit that ended on Friday. However, with deep divisions remaining over concrete steps to greater euro zone integration next year, concern is growing that this week’s meeting, and wider EU policy, is now focused on the wrong crisis.

Euro zone crisis firefighters begin to fight each other

Michael MoranNovember 19, 2012 16:23

LONDON, UK — Conventional wisdom has begun to dismiss the fear that Greece can take down the global economy. Since 2010, each month has appeared to bring a new round of European summitry, another do-or-die moment — and the sky hasn’t yet fallen. So should it be any different on Tuesday, when euro zone finance ministers decide whether to release the next tranche of Greek bailout money? Perhaps.

Greece heads for the wire again

Paul AmesNovember 6, 2012 15:20

BRUSSELS — Greece is back in the epicenter of the euro crisis. The country where it all began risks going bankrupt next week unless its fractious politicians approve a new round of painful budget cuts and labor reforms in time to persuade international creditors to free up $40 billion in bailout money.

German jobless rate grows for first time in 3 years

Lizzy TomeiOctober 30, 2012 11:52

In a meeting with German officials Tuesday, French finance minister Pierre Moscovici called for euro zone countries to being pooling their debt.

EU’s newest battle tests unity

Paul AmesOctober 27, 2012 15:39

BRUSSELS — As if European Union leaders didn't have enough headaches from the perilous state of their national budgets, they are now poised to further strain the EU's fragile unity with a battle over the bloc's own finances. Britain's prime minister is brandishing a veto, Germany's chancellor is threatening to walk out and Poland's premier is blasting his partners as "hypocrites." And that's before the talks have even started.

EU goes back to bland

Paul AmesOctober 19, 2012 11:25

BRUSSELS — After three years of last-gasp, make-or-break crisis meetings to save the euro, it's perhaps a positive sign that the latest European summit was so dull. Leaders of the 27 European Union countries wrangled into the small hours of Friday morning over the minutiae of a plan to tighten supervision of Europe's banks, finally stitching together a deal at around 3 a.m.

IMF warns over euro crisis as Greece gives Merkel hot welcome

Paul AmesOctober 9, 2012 12:27

BRUSSELS — Hours after the IMF appealed to Europe to get its act together or drag down the world economy, European Union countries wrangled Tuesday over calls for a financial transaction tax and an EU banking union in a spat that underscored divisions over their response to the euro zone crisis.

Angela Merkel in Athens: German chancellor greeted by protests during Greece visit (VIDEO)

Jessica PhelanOctober 9, 2012 08:55

Chancellor Merkel is in Greece for the first time in five years, on a trip that is designed to show Germany's support for its struggling euro zone neighbor.

Jessica PhelanOctober 9, 2012 06:59

Chatter: Ms Merkel goes to Athens

Protesters await the German chancellor's arrival in Greece, Mexico claims a major victory in its war on drugs, and some loon prepares to show us what happens to the human body when it plummets to earth from space.

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Graphic. (Antler Agency/GlobalPost)

Euro zone launches rescue fund

Paul AmesOctober 8, 2012 20:52

BRUSSELS — Euro zone finance ministers activated a $650 billion firewall fund Monday, then promptly concurred that the country seen as the mostly likely candidate for a rescue didn't need the bailout money.