Greek lawmakers vote Wednesday on austerity measures needed to unlock international aid and stave off bankruptcy despite strikes and public anger against billions more euros in tax hikes and pension cuts.

Greece unveiled a tough new austerity budget on Wednesday, sparking a call for a 48-hour general strike, as the EU said there was still work to be done before the recession-hit country can access loan funds needed to stave off bankruptcy.

After Molotov cocktails, slices of marble and oranges, Greek protesters have found new ways, in the shape of ice and pig posters, to demonstrate against austerity and the effects of the debt crisis.

Greece unveiled a tough new austerity budget on Wednesday, sparking a call for 48-hour general strike, as the EU said there was still work to be done before the recession-hit country can access loan funds needed to stave off bankruptcy.

Greece's main union on Wednesday called a 48-hour general strike for November 6-7 in protest at a new wave of austerity measures unveiled by the government in order to unlock EU-IMF bailout loans.

Spain's labour unions Friday called a general strike for November 14, the second such blanket action this year against the government's biting austerity measures.

Oil prices were mixed on Friday following recent volatility and as investors awaited the final outcome of an EU summit on tackling its debt crisis, traders said.

EU leaders tackled Friday boosting jobs and growth to mend some of the damage caused by austerity policies, after France and Germany reached a compromise deal on bank supervision key to easing the bloc's crisis.

EU leaders Friday agreed to bring banks under bloc-wide supervision next year, but failed to pin down an exact date -- dashing hopes of a quick move towards a full banking union.

EU leaders vowed Friday to set up a banking union during the course of 2013 after a Franco-German spat held up agreement on exactly when this vital crisis-fighting tool might come into force.

EU leaders Thursday vowed to set up a banking union during the course of 2013 after a Franco-German spat held up agreement on exactly when this vital crisis-fighting tool might come into force.

A spat between European powerhouses Germany and France over the best way to end the three-year debt crisis threatened to mar an EU summit Thursday, as anti-austerity protests claimed one life in Greece.

EU leaders began a summit meeting Thursday amid sharp French and German differences over how to tackle the bloc's crisis and as anger over fresh spending cuts boiled over with violent protests in Greece.

Greek riot police fired tear gas at protesters on the sidelines of a large anti-austerity rally in Athens during a national general strike as EU leaders prepared to tackle the eurozone crisis at a summit in Brussels.

One man died Thursday at an anti-austerity rally in Athens held during a national general strike as EU leaders were to tackle the eurozone crisis at a summit in Brussels.

Greek riot police on Thursday fired tear gas to disperse protesters at an anti-austerity rally in Athens held during a national general strike as EU leaders were to tackle the eurozone crisis at a summit in Brussels.

Greece braced for a crippling general strike against austerity on Thursday, as EU leaders were to tackle the eurozone's ongoing economic crisis at a summit.

European newspapers on Saturday praised the decision to award this year's Nobel Peace Prize to the EU, with the notable exception of the British press, most of which poured scorn on the decision.

British newspapers poured scorn Saturday on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union, reflecting economic angst and the country's ambivalence towards its neighbours on "the continent".

Greece's two trade union confederations have called a 24-hour general strike on October 18, the second in less than a month, to protest at austerity measures, as European Union leaders meet, a union source said Wednesday.