BRUSSELS. Nov 10: Unemployment in the European Union fell to 9.9 per cent in September, the first time in 6 years that the jobless rate has fallen below 10 per cent, the EU's statistics office said Monday. reports AP.

In the previous three months. Eurostat reported unemployment holding steady at 10 per cent across the 15-nation bloc. In September 1997. the rate stood at 10.6 per cent.

Eurostat said unemployment had been falling steadily since the beginning of 1997. but its monthly report still showed 16.6 million citizens out of work.

The EU rate compares with 4.6 per cent In the United States and 4.2 per cent in Japan.

Eurostat showed varying degrees of success in reducing unemployment over the past six years. From December 1992. Danish unemployment fell by more than half from 10 per cent to 4.3 per cent. Ireland's rate dropped from 15.6 per cent to 8.8 per cent and Britain's from 10.8 per cent to 6.3 per cent.

Over the same period, the Jobless rate rose in Germany from 7.1 per cent to 9.5 per cent and in Italy from 9.2 per cent to 12.3 per cent.