ECB warns of risks as Germany, France show weak data

European economies facing strong headwinds

(ANSA) - Rome, August 14 - Geopolitical risks are threatening the economic recovery in Europe, the European Central Bank warned Thursday. Its comments in a monthly report came at the same time as new data showed that Germany's economy contracted in the second quarter while the economy of France was stagnant. Last week, data showed Italy has fallen back into recession.

New figures on gross domestic product (GDP) showed that the large German economy shrank by 0.2% in the second quarter while in France, GDP was stagnant. The results are weaker than analysts had expected.