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Business news and information from the European Union

EU leaders want UK in union, but not treaty change — 09 January 2013, 22:54 CET

European leaders on Wednesday stressed the importance of keeping Britain in the EU, but said they opposed treaty changes demanded by Prime Minister David Cameron.

EU wants dialogue with Gambia — 09 January 2013, 22:54 CET

The European Union insisted Wednesday that it wanted dialogue with Gambia after President Yahya Jammeh charged that it was trying to destabilise his country by insisting on respect for human rights.

EU unveils cybercrime unit in bid to turn criminal tide — 09 January 2013, 18:42 CET

In a bid to seize the initiative from increasingly sophisticated online criminals, the European Union unveiled a new cybercrime centre on Wednesday.

MEPs want inquiry into EU tobacco scandal — 09 January 2013, 18:19 CET

Leading lawmakers from Europe's Greens called Wednesday for an inquiry into a tobacco lobby scandal that cost the bloc's top health official his job late last year.

Belgrade seeks autonomy for Kosovo's Serb minority — 09 January 2013, 17:34 CET

Serbia will ask for "autonomy" for its Serb minority in breakaway Kosovo as part of EU-backed talks with Pristina, Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said Wednesday.

Merkel says 'no special conditions' for Cyprus bailout — 09 January 2013, 17:33 CET

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that Cyprus would not be allowed any exceptional terms from its European partners as it seeks a bailout worth 17 billion euros ($22 billion).

Eurozone contracts sharply end 2012, rebound mid-2013 — 09 January 2013, 17:31 CET

The eurozone's recession likely sharpened at the of last year but the single currency zone will begin to rebound in the second quarter of this year, say forecasters at German, French and Italian agencies.

British business leaders warn Cameron over risks of EU exit — 09 January 2013, 14:28 CET

Major British business figures warn Prime Minister David Cameron that the renegotiation of the country's relationship with Europe could risk its exit from the EU, with "damaging" consequences for the economy and businesses.

British official trade deficit narrows in November — 09 January 2013, 13:03 CET

Britain's trade-in-goods deficit narrowed in November, as rising oil and chemicals exports were offset by a six-year high in imports from the European Union, official data showed on Wednesday.

Relaxing bank liquidity rules sparks hope for euro lending boost — 09 January 2013, 10:30 CET

The loosening of liquidity rules due to come into effect on banks raises hopes among some analysts to a recovery of lending the eurozone.

Jammeh accuses EU of trying to destabilise Gambia — 09 January 2013, 00:10 CET

Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh on Tuesday accused the European Union, which has urged him to respect human rights, of trying to destabilise his country and blackmail him "with chicken change."

Macedonia seizes EU-bound marijuana, arrests 15 — 08 January 2013, 22:02 CET

Macedonian police have seized some 350 kilogrammes (771 pounds) of marijuana bound for the European Union, worth up to one million euros ($1.3 million), and arrested 15 people, a minister said on Tuesday.

EU launches public consultation on sweetener aspartame — 08 January 2013, 21:56 CET

The EU's food safety agency on Tuesday launched a public consultation on its draft scientific opinion regarding the safety of the artificial sweetener aspartame.

Ireland hopes Britain will stay in EU — 08 January 2013, 21:39 CET

Ireland hopes Britain will not turn its back on the European Union but it must abide by the same conditions as other member states, Irish deputy prime minister Eamon Gilmore said on Tuesday.

Bahrain condemned for 'harsh' activist sentences — 08 January 2013, 21:37 CET

The United Nations and the European Union on Tuesday slammed a decision by Bahrain's highest appeals court to uphold lengthy prison terms against opposition activists.

French, US forces detain 12 suspected Somali pirates — 08 January 2013, 21:37 CET

French and US warships on patrol off the Somali coast combined to detain 12 suspected pirates after a merchant vessel reported coming under attack at the weekend, a statement said Tuesday.

EU Investment Bank confirms EUR 10 bn capital boost — 08 January 2013, 17:42 CET

The European Investment Bank says its shareholders, the EU's 27 member states, have unanimously approved a 10 billion euro capital increase, as agreed by national leaders last year.

Finland asks EU to probe France ship deal — 08 January 2013, 17:41 CET

Finland said Tuesday it has asked the European Commission to shed light on French state subsidies given to shipbuilder STX France to help it clinch a one billion-euro cruise ship order.

Euro unemployment hits 'unacceptable' high — 08 January 2013, 16:02 CET

European unemployment has hit an unacceptable high, as one national leader put it, with dire figures in Spain highlighting a growing north-south divide that experts warn will only get worse.

European retail sales edge up — 08 January 2013, 11:39 CET

Eurozone and EU retail sales edged up in November after a sharp fall in October as consumer confidence firmed slightly ahead of the Christmas holiday season, official data showed on Tuesday.

Britain's Cameron says wants to be PM until 2020 — 07 January 2013, 17:52 CET

David Cameron said Sunday he wanted to serve as British prime minister until at least 2020 to oversee a range of reforms including a renegotiation of Britain's relationship with Europe.

2013 sees cleaner trucks and buses across EU — 07 January 2013, 17:52 CET

Under new European Union rules to combat pollution, trucks and buses rolling off assembly lines this year will produce significantly less harmful exhaust fumes.

EU reiterates that Assad must 'step aside' — 07 January 2013, 17:51 CET

The European Union has reiterated that President Basahar al-Assad must step aside to allow a political settlement after the Syrian leader called for a national dialogue in a much-awaited speech in Damascus.

EU welcomes relaxation of bank capital buffer terms — 07 January 2013, 17:50 CET

The European Commission on Monday welcomed the agreement by top regulators to ease the burden on banks to increase their capital, a move which should also help the economy by providing more credit.

Turkey's EU membership is not a 'given': Swedish FM — 06 January 2013, 17:57 CET

Turkey's prospect of joining the European Union at the end of a lengthy process is not a certainty, Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told AFP Sunday, saying efforts would have to be made by both Ankara and Brussels.