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Business news and information from the European Union

Raunchy Bulgarian pop-folk genre gets EU aid — 15 January 2013, 22:01 CET

Bulgaria's top promoter of the region's raunchy pop-folk music genre known as "Chalga" is set to receive some one million euros in EU funding, it emerged Tuesday, sparking an outcry among parts of the cultural establishment.

Crucifix-wearing British woman wins European court case — 15 January 2013, 17:49 CET

A British Airways employee banned from wearing a crucifix said she felt "vindicated" after she won her case at the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday.

Van Rompuy looks for Feb budget summit: sources — 15 January 2013, 17:48 CET

European Union head Herman Van Rompuy is canvassing member states to decide whether to call a summit next month on the bloc's 2014-20 budget after EU leaders dismally failed to reach a deal in November, EU sources said Tuesday.

IMF, Romania start key talks on reforms, draft budget — 15 January 2013, 16:50 CET

IMF and EU experts opened talks with Romanian officials on Tuesday on the 2013 draft budget and progress on reforms, seen as crucial for consolidating investors' confidence.

EU to speed up Mali mission at crisis talks — 15 January 2013, 16:12 CET

European Union foreign ministers are set to speed up the dispatch of an EU mission to train Mali's army and discuss how best to back up an African intervention force at extraordinary talks Thursday, diplomats said.

Tunisia's Syphax in $600m deal to buy 10 Airbus A320s — 15 January 2013, 16:04 CET

Private Tunisian airline Syphax said on Tuesday it has signed an accord with European planemaker Airbus to acquire 10 of its A320 aircraft between 2015 and 2020 in a deal worth $600 million.

EU releases all data on GM corn linked to cancer — 15 January 2013, 13:43 CET

The EU's food safety agency challenged its doubters on Monday, making available all the scientific information used to clear a genetically modified corn which a French researcher had linked to cancer.

Cameron's deputy warns of uncertainty over Europe — 15 January 2013, 13:34 CET

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg warned his boss David Cameron on Tuesday that a prolonged period of uncertainty about Britain's relationship with the EU would have a "chilling effect" on the economy.

Eurozone November trade surplus rises — 15 January 2013, 13:30 CET

The 17-state eurozone posted a November trade surplus of 13.7 billion euros, up from a downwards-adjusted 9.3 billion euros in October, official data showed on Tuesday.

Ashton to join Euro-MPs in urgent Mali debate — 15 January 2013, 13:29 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will Tuesday join an urgent debate on the situation in Mali with European lawmakers meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg.

British business chiefs urge Cameron to avoid EU isolation — 15 January 2013, 10:58 CET

Prime Minister David Cameron must not risk jeopardising Britain's EU membership and damaging the weak economy, business chiefs warned ahead of the premier's key Europe speech later this week.

Britain's Cameron to make EU speech in Netherlands on Friday — 15 January 2013, 00:42 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron will give a long-awaited speech on his country's future relationship with the European Union in the Netherlands on Friday, his Downing Street office said.

Kaspersky finds 'Red October' virus targeting Eastern Europe — 14 January 2013, 23:16 CET

Kaspersky Lab says it has identified a new computer virus it dubbed "Red October" targeting eastern European countries that appeared to be collecting classified files using NATO and EU encryption.

Ashton confirms Mali crisis talks this week — 14 January 2013, 23:11 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Monday confirmed she had convened an extraordinary meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers to discuss the crisis in Mali.

Iceland slows EU membership talks ahead of election — 14 January 2013, 23:11 CET

Iceland said on Monday it was putting the brakes on its European Union membership talks so the issue would not interfere with its legislative elections scheduled for April 27.

Jail sentence for Austrian ex-MEP caught in sting — 14 January 2013, 23:10 CET

An Austrian former member of the European Parliament was sentenced Monday to four years in prison for corruption after being secretly filmed offering to change EU legislation for money.

Britain's Cameron to make EU speech in Netherlands on Friday — 14 January 2013, 19:01 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron will give a long-awaited speech on his country's future relationship with the European Union in the Netherlands on Friday, his Downing Street office said.

Undercover reporters testify at EU lawmaker's graft trial — 14 January 2013, 17:19 CET

Two British journalists who went undercover to expose corruption gave damaging testimony Monday in the trial of an Austrian former EU lawmaker, claiming he had offered to influence legislation for money.

UPS drops bid to create European parcel giant, TNT stock crashes — 14 January 2013, 15:51 CET

United Parcel Service has abandoned an attempt to create the biggest European group in the fight for the global parcel market, pulling out of a giant bid for Dutch TNT Express which immediately lost about half its value.

Hannover Re hit by 261-million-euro loss from Sandy — 14 January 2013, 15:45 CET

German reinsurance giant Hannover Re said on Monday that it had taken a 261-million-euro ($349-million) hit due to claims from Hurricane Sandy but still expected to reach its annual targets.

No combat role for EU military mission in Mali — 14 January 2013, 15:44 CET

The EU's executive stressed Monday there would be no combat role for a 400-strong European Union military training mission in Mali but it will be speeded up due to events, with a launch likely by early February.

British PM denies 'blackmailing' EU with referendum talk — 14 January 2013, 11:21 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday denied trying to "blackmail" his European partners by threatening to pull out of the EU if he did not get his way on repatriating powers.

Eurozone Nov industrial output down 0.3% — 14 January 2013, 11:19 CET

Industrial output in the 17-nation eurozone fell 0.3 per cent in November compared with output in October, reflecting the continued slowdown in the overall economy, official data shows.

British PM 'sleepwalking' towards EU exit: Miliband — 13 January 2013, 23:37 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron is "sleepwalking" toward an exit from the EU by pushing his plans to repatriate powers from the bloc, opposition leader Ed Miliband said Sunday.

EU, US agree to share cybercrime data as new unit opens — 13 January 2013, 23:28 CET

The European Union and the US agreed Friday to share more data on cross-border cybercriminals at the opening of a new hi-tech unit aimed at helping police catch up with increasingly imaginative criminals.