France calls for EU-Arab action group on Syria

04.02.12 @ 23:25

France has said that China and Russia's UN veto will not stop the EU and its Arab allies from helping the opposition in Syria.

Highlights

EU commission plans new spin on financial tax

03.02.12 @ 18:19

The EU commission is revising its assessment of a potential EU tax on financial transactions, saying the original version was "misused" to bash the proposal.

Deja vu as Russia gas cuts hit eight more EU countries

03.02.12 @ 09:26

Eight more EU countries have joined Italy in noting a sharp drop in Russian gas supplies, in events recalling the massive 2009 crunch.

EU seeks probe into Egypt football tragedy

03.02.12 @ 09:36

EU leaders are calling for an independent probe to find out why and how knife-wielding fans overwhelmed stadium security at a football match in Egypt earlier this week.

Focus

Battle lines drawn up in EU row on Acta

03.02.12 @ 15:38

The European Commission has stepped into the growing row over the anti-counterfeiting trade agreement, Acta, as leading MEPs refuse to fast-track parliamentary approval due to bad faith in talks.

Berlin digs in heels on extra €15bn for Greece

03.02.12 @ 09:26

Germany has ruled out any extra contribution from national governments or the European Central Bank to the second Greek bail-out - as requested by the Greek government. Meanwhile, sources close to the negotiations speak of a €15bn funding gap.

EU official predicts major anti-Putin rally

02.02.12 @ 18:39

EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton has predicted there will be a big turnout at a pro-democracy rally in Moscow on Saturday.

Breast implants scandal to see tougher EU legislation

02.02.12 @ 19:29

The European commission aims to strengthen oversight of companies that certify medical devices following a breast implant scandal that has affected 1000s of women across Europe.

Bank survey highlights EU economic gloom

02.02.12 @ 09:21

Euro-area banks are becoming less happy to lend and consumers are more reluctant to borrow, according to an authoritative new survey.

EU blocks German take-over of US stock exchange

01.02.12 @ 19:56

The EU commission has blocked a merger between Deutsche Boerse and the New York Stock Exchange, the two largest players in derivatives - a financial product blamed for the 2008 financial crisis.

Fiscal treaty stirs political disputes in EU countries

01.02.12 @ 10:20

The EU's new fiscal compact has caused a political split in the Czech Republic and calls for referendums or re-negotiation in Denmark, Ireland and France.

EU funds spent on 'environmentally harmful' projects

02.02.12 @ 18:29

As many as 33 projects in central and eastern Europe funded with €16bn out of EU's regional policy coffers are "environmentally harmful", a coalition of NGOs has said.

IMF worried by social cost of Greek austerity

02.02.12 @ 09:27

The Greek economy and its people are reaching the "limit" of what they can endure in terms of austerity cuts, a senior IMF official has said in unusually political remarks.

Cyprus is least gay-friendly EU country, rights group says

01.02.12 @ 21:44

Cyprus is the least gay-friendly EU country followed by Italy, Latvia and Malta, according to NGO research, with EU institutions doing little to raise legal standards.

Russia cuts EU gas, blames cold weather

01.02.12 @ 10:05

Gazprom has begun cutting gas supplies to the EU in order to meet higher demand in Russia caused by severe cold weather.