The average unemployment rate in Europe (all 28 EU member states) was 10.2% last month - its lowest rate since March 2012. The rate was 11.5% in the euro area, which is the lowest rate since September 2012.

Ireland experienced one of the largest drops in unemployment in Europe compared to last year. Unemployment figures were down from 13.6% to 11.8% in the year to June.

The EU's statistics office Eurostat found only Portugal and Hungary fared better when reducing the number of people out of work. Finland saw the highest increase in unemployment rate, up to 8.8% from 8.1%.

Austria had the lowest rate of joblessness at 5%, with Germany and Malta having unemployment rates at 5.1% and 5.6%.

Greece and Spain have the highest rates of unemployment - with 27% and 25% respectively.

Eurostat also recorded that there were 5.12 million young people (under 25) unemployed in the EU member states. That marks a decrease of 506,000 compared with June 2013.