While Portugal and Spain defied the odds with unexpected growth in the second quarter of 2014, the euro region as a whole registered no growth compared to the first quarter.
Analysts say the area’s stagnation will put pressure on the European Central Bank to initiate further measures to boost the European economy, such as quantitative easing.
Official figures revealed that the two largest economies, France and Germany, had both failed to perform as well as expected.
German GDP contracted by 0.2% in the quarter, falling back from 0.7% growth in the first three months.
French data showed that its economy registered no growth in both the first and second quarters. Italy, the area’s third largest economy, returned to recession.
Portugal managed to recover what it had lost. It jumped to 0.6% growth, after having contracted 0.6% in the first quarter.
Similarly in Spain, there was growth of 0.6%.
There is some concern that the sanctions on Russia and the crisis in the Ukraine are being felt, particularly by Germany.
The evidence suggests that the eurozone recovery continues to remain fragile and could deteriorate from this delicate position.
