Slovak Parliament Approves EU Bailout Fund

The Slovak parliament has approved expanding the powers of the European Union's bailout fund.

Slovakia is the last of the 17 eurozone countries to vote on the proposal to expand the planned 440-billion-euro European Financial Stability Fund, which is seen as key to resolving the eurozone debt crisis affecting not only the European but also the global economy.

The approval of the plan followed an earlier failed attempt, which toppled the Central European country's center-right cabinet and rattled financial markets on October 11.

compiled from agency reports