Stronger growth in the euro zone's two largest economies, Germany and France, helped the euro zone to emerge from its longest recession to date in the second quarter. The data confirm expectations that a fragile recovery was under way in the 17-state bloc. The euro zone needed seven quarters to return to growth of 0.3%, on a seasonally adjusted basis, in the three months to June, data from the European Union's statistics office Eurostat showed. Germany reported solid economic growth of 0.7% in the second quarter, while France posted a surprisingly strong 0.5% rebound. Confirming a fragmented picture of the rebound, Spain's economy fell by 0.1% on the quarter, while Italy and the Netherlands both dropped by 0.2%. But bailed-out euro zone peer Portugal posted a 1.1% expansion, showing the fastest growth in the euro zone in the three months to June, data showed. The euro zone's performance in the second quarter beat expectations of 35 economists in Reuters poll, who anticipated a 0.2% rise. Eurostat revised the first quarter drop in the euro zone to 0.3% on the quarter, from a previous 0.2% fall. The euro zone now faces an uneven and bumpy recovery dented by record high joblessness and belt-tightening austerity in peripheral countries, which need to speed up market reforms, boost growth and create new jobs. A number of countries including Ireland are not included in this survey due to the different schedules that statistics agencies operate under. But governments will welcome with open arms any glimmer of hope that Europe's stricken economy is turning the corner.

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