05/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - In May, the economic confidence indicator recorded a drop of 0.4 points in both the euro zone and the European Union. Eurostat, which published this information, stipulates that the steepest drops were in Belgium, Germany (-0.7 points in both countries) and France (-0.6). Ireland, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands, on the other hand, recorded rises in confidence.