31/08/2017 (Agence Europe) – According to data published by the EU Statistical Office (Eurostat), the euro area unemployment rate was 9.1% in July 2017, stable compared to June 2017 and down from 10.0% in July 2016. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since February 2009. The lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.9%), Germany (3.7%) and Malta (4.1%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (21.7% in May 2017) and Spain (17.1%). In July, the youth unemployment rate was 16.9% in the EU28 and 19.1% in the euro area. The lowest rate was observed in Germany (6.5%), while the highest rates were recorded in Greece (44.4% in May 2017), Spain (38.6%) and Italy (35.5%). (MB)