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Madagascar's Rajoelina seeks backing on EU trip by EUbusiness — last modified 04 July 2009, 20:32 CET

Madagascar's army-backed leader Andry Rajoelina left Saturday for Brussels to impress upon the European Union, which has suspended aid, that his transitional government is legal, officials said.

EU committee recommends lifting Indonesia flight ban by EUbusiness — last modified 03 July 2009, 16:49 CET

The European Union's Air Safety Committee has recommended that the regional bloc partially drop a ban on Indonesian airlines flying to its airspace, Indonesia's transport ministry said on Friday.

EU nations summon Iranian envoys over embassy detentions by EUbusiness — last modified 03 July 2009, 18:11 CET

EU nations summoned Iranian ambassadors Friday in protest at the detention of British embassy employees in Tehran, some of whom could be tried for stoking post-election unrest, according to a cleric.

Key Nabucco gas pipeline deal to be signed July 13 by EUbusiness — last modified 03 July 2009, 18:08 CET

EU nations and Turkey said Friday they will sign a key intergovernmental agreement in Ankara on July 13 on Europe's flagship Nabucco gas pipeline project, but key issues still need to be resolved.

EU nations seek to push Iran, but not too far by EUbusiness — last modified 03 July 2009, 16:44 CET

EU nations sought ways Friday to pressure Iran to free British embassy staff held in Tehran and end post-election repression, without jeopardising attempts to curb its nuclear programme.

EU 'ready to act' over British embassy detainees in Iran by EUbusiness — last modified 02 July 2009, 22:59 CET

The European Union is "ready to take action" if Iran does not free British embassy staff still detained in Tehran, the Swedish EU presidency warned on Thursday.

EU probes Lufthansa's Austrian Airlines takeover by EUbusiness — last modified 02 July 2009, 00:15 CET

The Commission has put off a ruling on Lufthansa's takeover of Austrian Airlines and opened an in-depth probe that could jeopardise the deal, which was opposed by rival airlines.

Tensions over Russia-EU summit as Sweden takes helm by EUbusiness — last modified 02 July 2009, 00:02 CET

Sweden assumed the EU's rotating presidency Wednesday but already faced problems due to its strained ties with Russia, with Moscow opposing plans to hold a key summit in Stockholm, an official said.

EU mulls British proposal to recall envoys from Iran by EUbusiness — last modified 01 July 2009, 23:40 CET

EU countries are considering a proposal from Britain to recall all their ambassadors from Iran in protest at the detention of British embassy employees, European diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.

Russia, Georgia resume talks in Geneva by EUbusiness — last modified 01 July 2009, 12:49 CET

The sixth round of talks between Russia and Georgia since their war last August opened Wednesday in Geneva, with diplomats expected to raise issues linked to the end of the UN and OSCE missions in the region.

Slovaks get rid of koruna coins after euro adoption by EUbusiness — last modified 30 June 2009, 23:54 CET

Slovaks, who have been using the euro for six months, got rid of all their old koruna coins on Tuesday -- their last opportunity to exchange the coins for euros in banks.

GMO maize strain safe: EU food agency by EUbusiness — last modified 30 June 2009, 17:26 CET

A genetically modified strain of maize, banned in some EU countries, poses no risk to health or the environment, the European Food Safety Authority declared on Tuesday.

EU confident of treaty ratification after court ruling by EUbusiness — last modified 30 June 2009, 18:40 CET

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso expressed confidence Tuesday that the EU's reform treaty would be ratified across the bloc by autumn, despite a German court ruling suspending the process there.

Reinfeldt and Bildt: tactician and veteran diplomat at EU helm by EUbusiness — last modified 29 June 2009, 16:30 CET

One is a calculating tactician new to the global stage, the other an impulsive veteran passionate about EU expansion: Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt are Sweden's tag team for the upcoming EU presidency.

Economic crisis, climate warming top Swedish EU priorities by EUbusiness — last modified 29 June 2009, 16:25 CET

The global economic crisis, soaring unemployment in Europe and climate change top Sweden's agenda as it takes over the European Union six-month presidency in difficult conditions on Wednesday.

Swedish PM to hold talks with Britain's Brown by EUbusiness — last modified 26 June 2009, 16:55 CET

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will hold talks on the country's forthcoming EU presidency with British counterpart Gordon Brown next week, a spokeswoman for the Swedish premier said Friday.

China defends raw material export curbs by EUbusiness — last modified 24 June 2009, 10:06 CET

China on Wednesday defended its restrictions on the export of some raw materials, which have sparked a US and EU trade action, saying they are in line with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Sweden summons Iranian ambassador for consultations by EUbusiness — last modified 23 June 2009, 13:59 CET

Iran's ambassador to Sweden was summoned to the foreign ministry on Tuesday to receive "a strong message" about Stockholm's concerns over the situation in Iran, the ministry said.

One dead in Georgia blast near EU monitor patrol by EUbusiness — last modified 21 June 2009, 23:33 CET

A road blast near Georgia's de facto border with its separatist region of Abkhazia on Sunday killed a Georgian medic accompanying an EU observer patrol, Georgia's Interior Ministry said.

Danger still stalks European banks as reformers close in by EUbusiness — last modified 21 June 2009, 12:04 CET

Danger still stalks European banking. This is the message from developments last week ranging from an ECB warning of a bad-loan mountain to an estimate by a ratings agency that some banks may not survive in their present shape.