London's benchmark FTSE 100 index shed 1.15 percent, Frankfurt's DAX 30 lost 1.0 percent and in Paris the CAC 40 gave up 0.74 percent.
However, Madrid rallied 1.26 percent and Milan jumped 3.0 percent moments after the start of trade, as the European Central Bank signalled it would buy hard-hit Spanish and Italian bonds.
The G7 grouping of leading economies vowed action to provide financial stability after stock markets plunged last week on mounting eurozone debt strains and weakening US growth.
Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011