Helsinki

By Paul Taylor

In the biggest advance in European integration since the launch of the euro in 1999, the European Central Bank will take charge of supervising banks from Helsinki to Lisbon in November after subjecting their books to unprecedented scrutiny.

With freezing winters where the mercury can sink well below zero and cool summers, Finland will never be a destination of choice for the world's sun-seekers.
      
But its chilly weather has attracted technology giants such as Google and Microsoft that seek a cool haven for thousands of servers holding terabytes of data from around the world.
      

By Marius Zaharia

Greek yields dipped on Thursday as the aid recipient readied an issue of three-year bonds in its second debt sale since its default, taking advantage of a European Central Bank promise to make long-term loans to banks.

By Stefan Riecher

The euro-area unemployment rate was unchanged in May as the currency bloc struggled to shake off the legacy of the debt crisis.

Russia "respects" Serbia's EU bid - FM Lavrov

BELGRADE -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Russia respects the negotiations on Serbia's accession to the EU, but finds dividing lines in Europe unacceptable.

Alexander Stubb, Finland's incoming Prime Minister wants to take his country into NATO, Finnish media outlets report.

Stubb, who was also elected Chairman of the National Coalition Party (NCP), will take the Prime Minister's office until next parliamentary elections scheduled for 2015.

BELGRADE - Finnish textile service company Lindstrom will open a branch office in Serbia this year.

Serbia will be the 23rd country where Lindstrom will sell its products and services which include catering and renting workwear, its maintenance, transport and replacement, reads the company's statement.

BELGRADE - The first Shakespeare Festival in Serbia will take place in Cortanovci, near Indjija in the south of the province of Vojvodina, from June 19 to 25, and present the latest productions of Shakespeare's plays.

BELGRADE - The Cultural Centre of Belgrade and the Finnish embassy in Serbia will organise a Finnish film week from April 25 to 29.

It will be the third iteration of the event, previously held in Belgrade in 2010 and 2012.

The euro-area economy will continue to lag behind its main competitors, the U.S. and China, this year and next as high levels of unemployment and debt hinder the currency bloc’s recovery.