RT Map of Protests Across EU

Demonstrators take part in a protest against the government's austerity reforms and the public payment of bank's debts in Madrid on October 27, 2012 (AFP Photo / Caesar Manso)

Protesters burn rubbish and set up barricades at the end of a demonstration organized by Spain's 'indignant' protesters, a popular movement against a political system that they say deprives ordinary Spaniards of a voice in the crisis, in the center of Madrid during a general strike on November 14, 2012. (AFP Photo/Pedro Armestre)

Paramedics evacuate an injured Catalan police officer during a demonstration in Barcelona on November 14, 2012. (AFP Photo/Quique Garcia)

Protesters attend a demonstration during a general strike on November 14, 2012 in Barcelona (AFP Photo/Quique Garcia)

Protesters wave banners and Catalan flags as they attend a demonstration during a general strike on November 14, 2012 in Barcelona. (AFP Photo/Quique Garcia)

Riot police officers face protesters at the end of a demonstration, outside the Portuguese Parliament in Lisbon during a general strike on November 14, 2012. (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)

In Italy, demonstrators march during a protest on a day of mobilisation against austerity measures by workers in southern Europe on November 14, 2012 in Rome. (AFP Photo / Andreas Solaro)

In Rome, demonstrators and riot policemen fight during a protest on a day of mobilisation against austerity measures by workers in southern Europe on November 14, 2012 (AFP Photo / Filippo Monteforte)

The face-off between police and protesters in Madrid has ended for the time being. After sporadic clashes, demonstrators have finally backed down from the police cordon near the iconic Plaza de Cibeles in the heart of the city.

November 14 - 11:06 GMT: The number of arrests in Spain during the general strike has now risen to 62 with 32 people injured, 18 of whom are police officers.

10:51 GMT: In France syndicates have organized around 130 rallies against austerity measures and the French government.

“This is the first time in the history of the EU that a social movement of this scale will take place simultaneously in a number of countries,” said the French General Confederation of Labor in a statement.

Firefighters block tram in France in austerity protests on November 14, 2012.
(Image from twitter user@AnonymouSkY

(Image from twitter user@turulax_turula)
10:02 GMT: A countrywide railway strike has paralyzed Belgium, forcing thousands of commuters to take to already crowded motorways. The disruption includes nigh-speed services to London and Paris. Belgian workers with flares demonstrated on rail tracks and blocked trains during a European strike, at the North train station in Brussels November 14, 2012. (Reuters / Yves Herman)

09:39 GMT: A general strike has been organized in Portugal with anti-austerity rallies in 40 towns and cities throughout the country. Transport services have effectively ground to a halt, with only 10 per cent of train services expected to run. November 14, 2012.

(Image from twitter user@sergiofigueiras)
09:25 GMT: Mass anti-austerity rallies are unfolding throughout the EU as thousands of workers voice their rage at crippling government cuts as part of the European Day of Action and Solidarity. General strikes have already begun in Portugal, Greece, Italy and Spain where the EU’s financial downturn has hit hardest. November 14, 2012

(Image from twitter user@sergiofigueiras)
09:25 GMT: Mass anti-austerity rallies are unfolding throughout the EU as thousands of workers voice their rage at crippling government cuts as part of the European Day of Action and Solidarity. General strikes have already begun in Portugal, Greece, Italy and Spain where the EU’s financial downturn has hit hardest. November 14, 2012

Thousands of people hold a banner as they march through the Spanish Basque town of Barakaldo November 9, 2012. The protest was called after Amaia Egana, a 53 year-old woman committed suicide in Barakaldo on Friday after receiving official notice that she was to be evicted, according to local media. The banner reads, "No To Unemployment. No To Evictions". (Reuters/Vincent West)

Riot police officers clash with protesters at the end of a demonstration organized by Spain's "indignant" protesters, a popular movement against a political system that they say deprives ordinary Spaniards of a voice in the crisis, near the parliament building in Madrid during a general strike. (AFP Photo/Cesar Manso) November 14, 2012

Demonstrators take part in a protest against the government's austerity reforms and the public payment of bank's debts near the Spanish Congress in Madrid on October 27, 2012 (AFP Photo / Dominique Faget)

Spanish police officers take part in a demonstration against the Spanish government's latest austerity measures in the center of Madrid on October 27, 2012. Hundreds of police officer gathered today in front of the Interior Ministry in Madrid to express their anger against the austerity measures and benefit cuts (AFP Photo / Cesar Manso)

Chaos in Athens: Greece in for new round of austerity as protests rage.Protestors gather in front of the parliament in Syntagma square during a 48-hour strike by the two major Greek workers unions in central Athens. Protestors, already in the streets were further enraged by an epidemic of suicides blamed on the government's austerity programs.

A 77-year-old Greek man has committed suicide in central Athens by the nation’s parliament, shooting himself with a handgun in apparent financial desperation.

A 60-year-old Greek musician and his 91-year-old mother jumped to their deaths from their 5th floor apartment, driven to despair by financial woes. This double death is the latest in a rising epidemic of crisis-induced suicides in Greece. A 77 year old pensioner committed suicide in central Athens at Greek Parliament in financial desperation, "refusing to search for food in garbage." Another debt-strapped 61 year old pensioner hung himself from a tree in a public park after succumbing to the pressure of crushing debt. A note in his pocket indicated he is merely the latest in a rash of economic crisis-induced suicides. (Photo:Reuters / John Kolesidis)

Greece grinds to halt amid mass austerity strike. A far-reaching national strike against new austerity measures has left Greece paralyzed. Thousands marched in the streets of Athens Tuesday in protest against measures that unions say will sink the country’s already-flagging economy.A protestor holds a banner reading "Traitor (Greece's Prime Minister Antonis) Samaras get out" in front of the parliament in Syntagma square during a 48-hour strike by the two major Greek workers unions in central Athens.
(Reuters / John Kolesidis)

Protesters swarm Madrid's Colon Square.

1945 GMT: At least 118 people have been detained across Spain, according to El Pais. At least 40 have been injured, 18 of them police officers.