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Business news and information from the European Union

Serb govt adopts EU, Russia deals ahead of polls: reports — 09 May 2008, 17:21 CET

Serbia's coalition government, which collapsed in disarray over East-West ties, adopted deals with the European Union and Russia on Friday, two days before crunch general elections.

EU satellite imagery experts will seek to solve Georgia drones row — 09 May 2008, 17:02 CET

Experts from the EU Satellite Centre in Spain will travel to Georgia to help investigate recent incidents involving Georgian drones overflying the rebel region of Abkhazia, an EU spokeswoman said Friday.

Majority of Danes in favour of adopting euro, poll suggests — 09 May 2008, 16:17 CET

A majority of Danes are in favour of abolishing opt-outs that enable Denmark to remain outside the eurozone and the European Union's joint defence and judiciary cooperation, a poll published Friday suggested.

EU will talk with whoever wins Serbian elections: Slovenian FM — 09 May 2008, 15:17 CET

The European Union wants Serbia to become a member and is ready to discuss its accession even if anti-EU nationalists win Sunday elections, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said Friday.

Asian security forum piles pressure on Myanmar to speed aid entry — 09 May 2008, 14:52 CET

Asia's top security forum, which includes China, the United States and the European Union, on Friday piled pressure on Myanmar to urgently speed up the entry of international aid for cyclone victims.

Slovenia confirms EU mission to Georgia — 09 May 2008, 14:51 CET

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, whose country holds the EU presidency, confirmed Friday that an EU mission would travel to Georgia next week to cool tensions over Abkhazia.

Serb cabinet in final pre-poll showdown on EU, Russia — 09 May 2008, 12:37 CET

Serbia's outgoing coalition government, which collapsed over East-West ties, meets Friday to approve a Russian energy deal in a final showdown two days before crunch general elections.

Serbia goes to polls deeply divided over Europe — 09 May 2008, 12:36 CET

Serbia's path towards the European Union divides its political scene and society to such an extent that weekend polls are bound to have a huge impact on the country's future, analysts said Friday.

EU commissioner urges Serbia to turn to Europe — 09 May 2008, 10:53 CET

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on Friday urged Serbians to vote for pro-European candidates in the country's general election in which Serbia's future direction is a key issue.

Italy names successor to Frattini as EU commissioner — 09 May 2008, 02:02 CET

Italy's new government on Thursday named Antonio Tajani, from Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, to replace Franco Frattini at the European Commission, a statement said.

EU calls for end to Lebanon fighting — 09 May 2008, 00:19 CET

The European Union called late Thursday for an end to the violence in the Lebanese capital Beirut and for the Hezbollah-led opposition to halt all disruptive activities.

Italy proposes successor to Frattini as EU Commissioner — 08 May 2008, 23:35 CET

Italy's new government on Thursday proposed Antonio Tajani, from Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, to replace Franco Frattini at the European Commission, a statement said.

Third body of illegal immigrant found floating off Malta: army — 08 May 2008, 23:24 CET

A third body of an illegal immigrant was found floating off the coast of Malta Thursday, sparking fears a possible larger tragedy may have unfolded.

Euro-MPs back tighter rules on lobbyists — 08 May 2008, 22:46 CET

The European Parliament voted on Thursday in favour of tightening rules regulating the 15,000 lobbyists that gravitate around the EU institutions.

EU to boost aid to Myanmar if easier access allowed — 08 May 2008, 20:24 CET

The European Commission could release up to 30 million euros (46 million dollars) or more in aid for Myanmar if authorities give greater access to relief teams, a senior EU official said Thursday.

EU opens new Chinese anti-dumping probe — 08 May 2008, 19:30 CET

The European Commission opened on Thursday a new anti-dumping probe against Chinese imports on concerns that China's manufacturers were selling unfairly at below cost.

EU ministers to visit Georgia to ease tensions with Moscow — 08 May 2008, 19:28 CET

The foreign ministers of Slovenia, Sweden Poland and Lithuania plan to visit Georgia on Monday in an effort to try to cool tensions between Tbilisi and Moscow.

Lithuania and Poland join forces on EU-Russia negotiations — 08 May 2008, 19:28 CET

Lithuania and Poland have agreed to coordinate their strategies on whether to agree further European talks on an EU-Russia partnership pact, Lithuania's government information bureau said Thursday.

100-million-euro investment club was scam: Finnish police — 08 May 2008, 18:48 CET

An investment club in Finland that drew investments of some 100 million euros (154 million dollars) from around 10,000 people was a scam, police said on Thursday.

Spain to extend period illegal immigrants can he held in custody — 08 May 2008, 15:30 CET

Spain plans to extend the period under which illegal immigrants can be held in custody from the current 40 days, Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said Thursday.

Consumers ripped off by misleading online airline tickets, says EU — 08 May 2008, 15:04 CET

Consumers are getting ripped off by misleading information for airline tickets sold online, the EU's top consumer protection official said on Thursday, promising a crackdown if the industry fails to clean up its act.

Lithuania, Latvia ratify EU's Lisbon treaty — 08 May 2008, 13:25 CET

The former Soviet states of Lithuania and Latvia on Thursday ratified the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, which aims to reforming decision making in the 27-nation bloc.

Serbia's fragile economy at stake in weekend polls — 08 May 2008, 10:11 CET

Serbia's fragile economy could pay the price if nationalists win Sunday's general elections, depriving it of the benefits of European Union rapprochement, analysts warn.

Free speech reform comes into force in Turkey — 08 May 2008, 10:10 CET

A long-awaited law aimed at expanding freedom of speech came into force in Turkey on Thursday after presidential approval.

EU sets conditions to ease visa regime for Serbians — 08 May 2008, 01:47 CET

The European Commission Wednesday outlined a list of conditions Serbia needs to fulfil to ease the visa regime for nationals visiting EU nations.