Timeline

DECEMBER 8th Congress of centre-right European People’s Party, the largest grouping in the European Parliament, is held in Marseilles…

DECEMBER 8thCongress of centre-right European People's Party, the largest grouping in the European Parliament, is held in Marseilles, France.

The European Central Bank governing council announces unprecedented action to support Europe’s cash-starved banks with three-year liquidity tenders and easier collateral rules and cuts interest rates back to a record low of 1 per cent.

Informal dinner of EU heads of state and government in Brussels to discuss situation in financial markets and the economic crisis and efforts to move towards stronger economic union, ahead of summit.

DECEMBER 9thEU heads of state and government agree, except the UK, to new rules to tighten fiscal integration, with proposals aimed at restoring market trust and preventing the region's debt crisis from spiralling out of control.

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DEC 12Italy's three main unions hold three-hour joint strike.

DEC 16-20Spain's new Popular Party government to take office

after general election victory.

DEC 19Greece to get €8 billion under its first €110 billion bailout.

DEC-JANBond auctions continue as euro zone states seek finance.