Brussels, Aug 13 (DPA) Europe's economy remained stuck in recession, with second quarter figures out Thursday showing gross domestic product (GDP) contracting by 0.3 percent in the European Union and by 0.1 percent in the eurozone on the quarter.

The flash estimates by the European statistical office Eurostat dashed hopes of an earlier-than-expected recovery after two of the EU's biggest economies - Germany and France - posted positive GDP figures.

Their performances were offset by those of Italy and Britain, where GDP fell on the previous quarter by 0.5 and 0.8 percent, respectively.

Thursday's Eurostat figures nevertheless surpassed original expectations that the European economy would shrink by 0.5 percent between April and June.