Luxembourg, 06/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - According to Eurostat, unemployment in the eurozone stood at 8.5% in December 2001, unchanged compared with November 2001 and December 2000. In the EU as a whole (EU15), it stood at 7.8% in December 2001 (the same level as in November 2001, compared with 7.9% in December 2000). Spain's unemployment rate, 12.9%, remains the highest in the EU. The lowest levels were recorded in the Netherlands (2.2%), Luxembourg (2.5%), Austria (4.2%), Ireland (4.2%), Portugal (4.3%) and Denmark (4.4). In the last twelve months, the biggest relative falls were recorded in the Netherlands, Denmark and Spain; and the biggest relative rises in Austria, Ireland and Portugal.