London's benchmark FTSE 100 index fell 0.31 percent to 5,157.85 points, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index lost 1.13 percent to 5,158.26 points and in Paris the CAC 40 shed 1.38 percent to 2,855.00.

Madrid dropped 0.73 percent and Milan slid 1.44 percent.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011