(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 8 - The GDP decreased by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU In the first quarter of 2021, compared with the previous quarter, Eurostat said today. Ireland (+7.8%) and Croatia (+5.8%) recorded the sharpest increases of GDP compared to the previous quarter, followed by Estonia (+4.8%) and Greece (+4.4%), while the strongest declines were observed in Portugal (-3.3%), Slovakia (-2.0%), Germany (-1.8%) and Latvia (-1.7%), the EU statistical office said. (ANSA).