06/12/2012 | Argentina

Argentina regrets US, EU 'untimely' accusations before WTO

In a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry, the local Government said that the accusations made by the US and the EU against Argentina before the WTO are “untimely.”

26/01/2013 | Argentina

CFK calls for new Mercosur proposal, meets with Rousseff

The Argentine Head of State met with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in Chile today, stating afterward that a new foundation must be built “between the Mercosur partners."

01/05/2012 | Argentina

Explosion occurs outside EU branch in Buenos Aires

Explosive materials were set off outside the door of the European Union’s branch in Argentina, located in Barrio Norte neighbourhood. Early police reports said the explosion only caused superficial damage and that there were no injuries.

21/08/2012 | Argentina

US, Japan follow EU into WTO litigation against Argentina

The United States and Japan have launched complaints at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over Argentina's import licensing rules, which they say discriminate against foreign goods, the trade body said.

31/10/2012 | Argentina

Argentina loses EU preferential import scheme

The EU has issued today its revised import preference scheme - known as the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) - for developing countries most in need which will take effect from 1 January 2014, revealing that Argentina will no longer benefit.

14/04/2011 | Argentina

EU threatens to file lawsuit against Argentina over 'protectionism'

The European Union’s top trade negotiator, Karel de Gucht, accused Argentina of being “the great obstacle” in an association agreement between the EU and the Mercosur, and threatened to take the case before the WTO.

19/10/2011 | Argentina

Argentina and BRICs main trade culprits, warns EU report

Major trading nations led by Argentina, Brazil and Russia are raising barriers to international and threatening the global economic recovery, the European Union's executive arm said today.

23/04/2012 | Argentina

Timerman denies EU's complaining letter over YPF

Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman denied having received a complaining letter from the European Union’s Commissioner for Trade, Karel de Gucht, over the government’s expropriation plans of oil and gas company Repsol-YPF.

08/02/2013 | World

EU leaders agree deal on long-term budget

European Union leaders reached agreement on the bloc's long-term spending plans until the end of the decade today after more than 24 hours of negotiation, the president of the European Council said.

04/01/2013 | World

Iran says talks with big powers to be held in January, but no details decided yet

Iran has agreed to hold talks with six major powers about its atomic program in January but the date and venue has yet to be decided, the country's top nuclear negotiator said today, while the European Union assured no date has been fixed for further talks on Iran's nuclear programme.

22/01/2013 | World

Cameron to promise Britons straight choice on EU exit

Prime Minister David Cameron will promise today to give Britons a straight referendum choice on whether to stay in the European Union or leave, provided he wins an election in 2015.

06/02/2013 | World

EU launches 105-million-euro restoration of Pompeii

28/11/2012 | World

EU approves Spain bank restructuring, opens door to aid

The European Commission gave the go ahead for Spain to overhaul its stricken nationalized banks today and opened the door for nearly 40 billion euros in euro zone aid to be disbursed, offering hope for an end to Spain's banking crisis.

04/12/2012 | World

EU considers response to Israeli settlement building plans

European Union states struggled to agree on a common response to Israel's plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, highlighting the divisions within the bloc over how to tackle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

13/12/2012 | World

EU reaches deal to make ECB top banking supervisor

The European Union reached a landmark deal today to make the European Central Bank the bloc's top banking supervisor, giving EU leaders greater confidence that they are gaining the upper hand over the euro zone's debt crisis.

18/10/2012 | World

Merkel seeks more EU budget control

German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded stronger central powers for the European Union's executive to veto national budgets that breach EU rules, risking a clash with close ally France at a summit of the bloc's leaders.

13/11/2012 | World

EU, IMF clash over Greece revives debt crisis fears

A public clash between Greece's international lenders over how Athens can bring its debts down to a sustainable level has reignited fears that the crisis could flare up anew.

16/11/2012 | World

OECD report: Rising obesity strains Europe's shrinking health budgets

More than half of Europeans are obese or overweight, adding significant pressure to healthcare costs at a time when spending is being cut by governments, the OECD and European Commission said today.

01/10/2012 | World

Euro zone joblessness risks 'economic disaster'

The EU warned today of an "economic and social disaster" if joblessness among young Europeans continued to rise, calling for a joint effort to combat record high unemployment in the countries which share the euro.

13/10/2012 | World

Finance leaders back EU, US to-do list to shield growth

World finance leaders endorsed a checklist of policy reforms aimed at pressuring Europe and the United States to tackle debt troubles that threaten to choke off global growth.

17/10/2012 | World

EU settles on threesome to collect Nobel peace prize

Almost a week after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, the European Union has finally decided who will collect the award.

29/08/2012 | World

EU initiates anti-dumping action against Argentina

The European Union threatened today to impose tariffs on biodiesel imported from Argentina and also Indonesia. The announcement was made today on the bloc’s Official Gazette.

08/09/2012 | World

EU may impose new Syria sanctions as Assad clings to power

The European Union may impose new sanctions on the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad as soon as next month, EU diplomats said.

19/09/2012 | World

France gives initial green light to EU fiscal pact

French President Francois Hollande's Socialist-led government kickstarted ratification today of a European Union budget discipline pact it grudgingly accepts as the next step out of the euro zone debt crisis.

02/08/2012 | World

Iran, EU agree to talk again on nuclear dispute

Chief negotiators for the EU and Iran agreed to hold more talks about Tehran's nuclear work, but the European Union gave no sign progress was imminent in the decade-long dispute.

18/08/2012 | World

EU's Ashton condemns 'hateful' Iran remarks on Israel

The EU foreign policy chief said that comments by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who called Israel a "cancerous tumour" with no place in a future Middle East, were "outrageous and hateful".

29/08/2012 | World

Spain, EU in agreement over bad bank terms

The Spanish government and European Union officials are in agreement on the general terms for creating a bad bank to hold toxic real estate assets, Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said.

02/07/2012 | World

New high for euro zone joblessness

Joblessness in the euro zone rose to a new record high in May, pushed up by lay-offs in France, Spain and even stable Austria, as the 2-1/2 year debt crisis continued to eat away at the currency bloc's fragile economy.

02/07/2012 | World

EU deal could be positive for Spanish banks, DBRS assures

Ratings agency DBRS said that a European deal to help the region's banks could be positive for Spain's financial firms, possibly sparing the country a rating cut that would trigger additional collateral at the European Central Bank.

03/07/2012 | World

UK could stem EU migration if crisis worsens

Britain could restrict the immigration of Greeks and other citizens of euro zone countries affected by Europe's sovereign debt crisis in the event of "extraordinary stresses and strains", Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday.

12/06/2012 | World

Barroso seeks EU banking union

A banking union giving a cross-border agency supervisory powers over major lenders in all EU states could be enacted by next year, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was quoted as saying.

24/06/2012 | World

Pre-summit document presses EU banking union

European leaders will discuss specific steps towards a cross-border banking union, closer fiscal integration and the possibility of a debt redemption fund at a summit on June 28-29, according to a document prepared for the meeting.

26/06/2012 | World

Spain considers tax hikes to curb deficit, please EU

Spain is considering raising consumer, energy and property taxes, the government said, as it struggles to reduce a public deficit that may have already exceeded one of its budgeted ceilings for the full year.

26/05/2012 | World

Four EU leaders set June 22 crisis talks

The leaders of France, Germany, Spain and Italy will meet on June 22 to discuss the euro zone crisis, said a spokeswoman for the Spanish prime minister's office.

01/06/2012 | World

Euro zone unemployment hits record high

Euro zone unemployment has hit a record high, and job losses are likely to keep climbing as the bloc's devastating debt crisis eats away at businesses' ability to hire workers while indebted governments continue to cut staff.

08/06/2012 | World

Spain poised to request EU bank aid

Spain is expected to ask the euro zone for help with recapitalising its stricken banks at the weekend, EU and German sources said, becoming the fourth country to seek assistance since Europe's debt crisis began.

15/05/2012 | World

Eurostat: Europe's economy avoids recession but split grows

The euro zone just avoided recession in early 2012 but the region's debt crisis sapped the life out of the French and Italian economies and widened a split with paymaster Germany.

15/05/2012 | World

Hollande sworn in as French president, calls for European pact for growth

Francois Hollande was sworn in as France's first Socialist president in 17 years in a brief ceremony today. In his inaugural speech, he said he would seek to amend a European pact to add growth-boosting measures to deficit-cutting policies that critics say are dampening the bloc's growth prospects.

24/05/2012 | World

EU urges Greece to stay in euro, plans for possible exit

European Union leaders, advised by senior officials to prepare contingency plans in case Greece decides to quit the single currency, urged the country to stay the course on austerity and complete the reforms demanded under its bailout program.

24/04/2012 | World

EU preparing WTO trade suit against Argentina, source assures

The European Union is planning to lodge a complaint at the World Trade Organization over Argentina's import restrictions and is seeking other trading partners to back its suit, a source familiar with the situation said today, according to a news agency.

26/04/2012 | World

EU clock ticking for Dutch budget talks

The Dutch caretaker government scrambled to strike a deal with opposition parties on a 2013 budget that would cut the deficit, before an EU deadline, with ministers and opposition politicians saying there was scope for progress.

14/05/2012 | World

UK warns of more EU Iran sanctions if no change

The European Union will impose tougher sanctions on Iran if it fails to take concrete steps to allay international concerns over its nuclear programme, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said.

19/04/2012 | World

Spain says European Union will intervene on YPF case

Spain's Trade Secretary Jaime García-Legaz said today the European Union will intervene on his country's behalf over the Argentine government's plan to seize a controlling stake in YPF oil and gas company Repsol.

20/04/2012 | World

France says EU to adopt new sanctions on Syria on Monday

The European Union will adopt new sanctions against Syria on Monday in light of continued bloodshed despite a week-old ceasefire, France's Foreign Ministry said today.

24/04/2012 | World

European Commission 'surprised' at Timerman’s denial on YPF letter

The European Commission expressed today its astonishment over Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman remarks regarding a letter sent by the European Union last week.

30/03/2012 | World

IMF welcomes reinforcement on Euro zone firewall

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde welcomed today an increase on the financial rescue capacity of Eurozone to prevent a new flare-up of Europe's sovereign debt crisis.

03/04/2012 | World

IMF Lagarde: ‘We should not delude ourselves into a false sense of security’

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said today the world economy is still in recession and the recovery remains fragile as she warned that, although some progress has been made, the global economic situation is not ideal yet.

10/04/2012 | World

Global recession more severe now than when it started, IMF says

Housing busts and recessions are more severe and last for at least five years when they follow a big run-up in household debt, according to a study released today by the International Monetary Fund. For that matter, the IMF has urged governments to consider “bold” interventions to reduce household debt levels and stimulate growth.

14/03/2012 | World

Greek cabinet formally approves bailout agreement

Greece's cabinet unanimously approved the terms of its international bailout on Wednesday, hours after euro zone countries formally approved the 130 billion euro ($169 billion) financial package that Athens needs to stay afloat.

15/03/2012 | World

IMF approves 28 billion euro bailout for Greece

The International Monetary Fund today approved a 28 billion euro ($36.7 billion) bailout for Greece, part of a broader international rescue package for the debt-strapped euro zone member.

20/03/2012 | World

Greece receives first tranche of new bailout aid

Greece has received the first 7.5 billion euros ($ 9.9 billion) of aid from its new EU/IMF bailout, with the bulk of the payment going to repay bonds held by the euro zone's central banks, government officials said today.

08/03/2012 | World

European Central Bank slashes euro zone's growth forecast

The European Central Bank lowered its euro zone growth forecast after holding interest rates at record lows today, and said things would have been much worse without its dramatic action to pump a trillion euros into the banking system.

12/03/2012 | World

Eurozone okays Greek aid, demands deeper Spanish deficit cut

Euro zone finance ministers gave their final approval to a second bailout for Greece and turned their fire on Spain, demanding it aim for a tougher deficit target this year in order to get back on target in 2013.

13/03/2012 | World

More austerity needed in Greece, EU/IMF report says

Greece will have to slash a further 5.5 percent of GDP in government spending in 2013 and 2014 to meet agreed fiscal targets underpinning the second international bailout for Athens, a European Commission report said.

29/02/2012 | World

German media slams Schaeuble's for playing Sudoku during debate

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was criticised today for playing Sudoku on a small computer during a crucial parliamentary debate on Greece, becoming a lightning rod for the growing opposition in Germany to the latest bailout

02/03/2012 | World

Pact for budget discipline signed by 25 EU states

All but two European Union countries signed a treaty on tighter budget discipline for the euro zone today, marking a coup for Germany which pushed for the accord to try to prevent a repeat of the loose spending that led to a debt crisis.

05/03/2012 | World

EU's Barroso says sure Spain will honor commitments

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said today he was confident Spain would fulfill its EU budget discipline commitments despite setting itself a softer 2012 deficit target than originally planned.

20/02/2012 | World

Italy, Britain urge more EU focus on growth

Italy, Britain, the Netherlands and nine other countries called for Europe to shift its focus from tough budget cuts towards measures to create growth as the region looks headed for its second recession in three years.

21/02/2012 | World

Obama congratulates Merkel on EU fiscal pact

US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised a new European Union deal designed to stave off a chaotic Greek debt default, the White House said.

22/02/2012 | World

Fitch downgrades Greece on debt swap plan

Fitch cut Greece's long-term ratings today to its lowest rating above a default, becoming the first ratings agency to make the widely expected downgrade after the country announced a bond exchange plan to ease its massive debt burden.

15/02/2012 | World

Iran stops oil exports to six EU countries, reports state TV

Iran has stopped oil exports to six European states in retaliation for European Union sanctions imposed on the Islamic state's key export, its English-language Press TV reported today.

15/02/2012 | World

Sarkozy launches presidential election campaign

President Nicolas Sarkozy formally declared his candidacy for a second term seeking to overturn a wide poll lag with promises to get the unemployed back to work and use referendums to consult the French people on reforms.

15/02/2012 | World

Monti warns of mounting Europe's divisions, resentment

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti warned today that the euro zone debt crisis was fuelling dangerous divisions and resentment within the currency bloc and said it was wrong to try to divide member states into "goodies and baddies".

06/02/2012 | World

Greece lets deadline for bailout slip

Greece let yet another deadline slip today for responding to painful terms for a new EU/IMF bailout as patience in Brussels wore thin over drawn-out negotiations among its feuding political leaders.

09/02/2012 | World

Greece deal fails to convince, EU demands more

Greek political leaders said they had clinched a deal on economic reforms needed to secure a second EU bailout, but euro zone finance ministers demanded more steps and a parliamentary seal of approval before providing the aid.

12/02/2012 | World

Hungary faces EU deadline to change laws, unlock aid talks

EU maverick Hungary will offer to tweak most of the laws at the heart of a dispute with Brussels when it responds formally to demands for change this week in a bid to unlock talks on vital aid.

31/01/2012 | World

Eurozone unemployment hits highest level since birth of euro

Euro zone unemployment has risen to its highest level since before the euro was introduced, data showed today, a day after EU leaders promised to focus on creating millions of new jobs to try to kickstart Europe's floundering economy.

01/02/2012 | World

IMF says Greece must step up reform

Debt-laden Greece and its international lenders must focus less on deficit reduction and more on reform because there are limits to what society can tolerate, a senior IMF official said today.

03/02/2012 | World

Iran warns of retaliation over oil sanctions

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would retaliate over Western-backed oil sanctions and any threat of attack, after US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta was cited as saying he feared a possible Israeli strike as early as April.

26/01/2012 | World

Ahmadinejad says EU to be sanctions loser

The European Union rather than Iran will lose out under new EU sanctions banning Iranian oil, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today as lawmakers said they might cut supplies to EU countries ahead of a July 1 deadline.

26/01/2012 | World

Davos: Cameron asks for ‘bold and decisive action’ to the European crisis

United Kingdom’s Prime Minister David Cameron urged the European Union today to take a “bold and decisive action” to curb the economic crisis hovering over the Euro Zone. According to the Prime Minister, the European Central Bank should be “doing more” to contain the recession.

30/01/2012 | World

EU leaders agree rescue fund, 25 join fiscal pact

European leaders agreed on a permanent rescue fund for the euro zone and 25 of the 27 EU states backed a German-inspired pact for stricter budget discipline, but they struggled to reconcile fiscal austerity with economic growth.

24/01/2012 | World

IMF slashes world growth outlook as euro zone weighs

The euro zone debt crisis is escalating and dragging down the world economy, the International Monetary Fund said today, as it sharply cut its outlook for global growth and called for policies to restore confidence.

25/01/2012 | World

IMF: Public sector may be needed in Greek restructuring

Greece's public sector creditors may need to participate in a restructuring of its debt if a haircut negotiated with private sector bondholders is not enough to make Athens' debt sustainable, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said.

26/01/2012 | World

Greece, creditors edge closer to deal, talks to continue

Greece and its private creditors made progress in talks on restructuring its debt, both sides said, and they will continue negotiating on Friday with the aim of sealing an agreement within a few days.

23/01/2012 | World

Lagarde urges EU to increase financial firewall against Greek crisis

IMF chief Christine Lagarde urged today European governments to increase their financial firewall to prevent Greece's troubles from ensnaring bigger countries like Italy and Spain.

23/01/2012 | World

Germany, France press for Greek debt deal

Germany and France pressed today for a rapid deal between Greece and its private creditors that returns its soaring debt to sustainable levels and said they remained committed to a new bailout that is needed by March to avert a disastrous default.

24/01/2012 | World

EU foresees ‘moderate recession’ for first semester in Europe

The European Union predicts Europe will endure a moderate recession on the year’s first semester, remarked today EU commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn.

22/01/2012 | World

Croatia votes to join EU in 2013

Croatia voted Sunday in favor of joining the European Union in 2013, shrugging off concerns over the economic turmoil in the bloc, according to preliminary official results of a referendum.

23/01/2012 | World

EU expands sanctions against Syria

EU foreign ministers tightened sanctions against Syria, adding 22 people and eight entities to a list of banned people and groups, and said President Bashar al-Assad's violent crackdown against protesters was unacceptable.

23/01/2012 | World

EU bans Iranian oil, Tehran responds with threats

The European Union banned imports of oil from Iran today and imposed a number of other economic sanctions, joining the United States in a new round of measures aimed at deflecting Tehran's nuclear development programme.

10/01/2012 | World

EU's Rehn asks markets for patience, hopeful on Greece

Greece is nearing an agreement with private-sector bond holders on a debt swap crucial to a second bailout package for Athens, the European Union's top economic official said today.

17/01/2012 | World

Greeks strike against austerity as EU, IMF visit

Striking Greek workers brought the Athens metro to a standstill today and kept ferries docked to protest against austerity as the country's lenders visited Athens to try to avert a disorderly debt default.

19/01/2012 | World

France's Juppe sees EU sanctions on Iran Monday

EU foreign ministers are expected to agree on an oil embargo against Iran and a freeze on the assets of its central bank at a meeting scheduled for Monday, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said.

12/12/2011 | World

Cameron: EU membership is vital to Britain

Prime Minister David Cameron defended his decision to break with European partners by vetoing a change to the EU treaty, insisting today that remaining a member of the 27-nation bloc was in Britain's national interest.

15/12/2011 | World

IMF: 'World economic outlook is quite gloomy, no country is immune'

The world economic outlook is "quite gloomy" and will require action by all countries, starting with those in Europe, to head off an escalating crisis that carries risks of a global depression, the head of the International Monetary Fund said today.

09/01/2012 | World

Merkel and IMF's Lagarde to meet tomorrow

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde will meet today at 8 pm local time (1900 GMT) in Berlin, Merkel's spokesman said today.

09/12/2011 | World

IMF's Lagarde praises euro deal,urges wider action

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde welcomed a move by European countries to more closely link fiscal policies and urged others to do their part to help ease strains linked to the euro area debt crisis.

09/12/2011 | World

US says EU pact progress, more needs to be done

The White House said an agreement by Europe, except Britain, for deeper economic integration in the euro zone was progress, but more needed to be done.

10/12/2011 | World

German minister 'certain' summit has solved crisis

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said agreements reached at an EU summit this week will solve the euro zone's debt crisis and that Germany needs a strong Europe.

08/12/2011 | World

EU Barroso calls for unity ahead of crucial summit

The president of the European Commission appealed to EU leaders today to set aside their differences and unite to rescue the euro from a sovereign debt crisis that is menacing the world economy.

08/12/2011 | World

Cameron: UK will veto a EU treaty if bad for Britain

British Prime Minister David Cameron said today he would have "no hesitation" in vetoing any treaty of all 27 European Union nations to fix the euro debt crisis if it did not protect interests of Britain.

08/12/2011 | World

EU agrees tougher budget, debt rules

European Union leaders agreed on new fiscal rules enshrining tougher budget discipline, an EU official said, after the European Central Bank doused hopes of dramatic action on its part to arrest the euro area's debt crisis.

18/11/2011 | World

Greek govt submits budget, EU/IMF team meets PM

Greece's new government took a first step towards meeting terms of an international bailout needed to avoid bankruptcy, submitting a budget bill that foresees no new austerity measures next year as long as reforms are enacted.

06/12/2011 | World

Geithner backs EU crisis plan, stresses ECB role

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner threw his weight behind a Franco-German plan to tackle the euro zone's sovereign debt crisis and said the European Central Bank had to play a major role in any solution.

07/12/2011 | World

EU to cut aid to 19 emerging countries from China to Argentina

The European Commission decided to cut aid from its 2014 -2020 budget to 19 emerging economies together with big economies like China, India and Brazil, and also including Argentina and other ten Latin American countries, the EU's development commissioner Andris Piebalgs said today.

03/11/2011 | World

Greek PM sets talks with opposition, softens referendum stance

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou offered today to hold talks with the opposition to resolve the country's political crisis and softened his stance on a referendum on the country's vital bailout package.

08/11/2011 | World

No consensus on Palestinian bid, UN report

A draft report by a key UN Security Council committee, obtained by an international news agency today, declared that members could not reach consensus on whether Palestine should be accepted as a UN member state.

14/11/2011 | World

Greek conservative leader: 'I won't back more austerity'

The leader of Greece's main conservative group Antonis Samaras said today his New Democracy party would not vote for any new austerity measures and said the mix of policies demanded by international lenders should be changed.

31/10/2011 | World

Greece calls referendum on new EU aid deal

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou called a referendum on a new EU aid package and said he would ask for a vote of confidence to secure support for his policy for the remainder of his four-year term, which expires in 2013.

02/11/2011 | World

Greek PM defies anger to defend referendum plan

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said today he would push ahead with a referendum on an EU bailout deal, defying demands from lawmakers of his own party that he quit for jeopardising Greek membership of the euro.

02/11/2011 | World

US, EU deeply concerned with Israel on settlements

The United States is expected to voice deep disappointment at Israel's speeding up settlement building following UNESCO's decision to grant full membership to the Palestinians, a US official said today. The European Union had already expressed deep concern about Israel's decision today.

20/10/2011 | World

EU agrees on bank capital needs, split over bailout fund

The European Union has agreed that around 100 billion euros is needed to recapitalise the European banking system, but splits remain before a high-profile summit on Sunday over how to strengthen the euro zone's bailout fund.

26/10/2011 | World

Euro zone aims to leverage EFSF 'several fold', draft statement says

The euro zone aims to leverage its 440 billion euro bailout fund, the EFSF, "several fold" but finance ministers will only agree the details of how that will be done in November, according to a draft statement to be issued after a summit today.

27/10/2011 | World

Papandreou to present EU deal to wary Greeks

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will present to the nation today an EU deal to lower Greece's debt burden, amid rising frustration with his Socialist government and fears the agreement could spell years of painful belt-tightening.

12/10/2011 | World

EU Commission calls for action on Greece and banks

The president of the European Commission called today for EU leaders to bring forward the introduction of a permanent rescue mechanism for states to mid-2012 from mid-2013 and called for more rigorous capital standards for banks.

17/10/2011 | World

Germany lowers expectations of debt crisis breakthrough

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said in a speech in Duesseldorf today that while European governments would adopt a five-point platform to address the turmoil, it was wrong to expect "a definitive solution" at the summit.

20/10/2011 | World

Libya: EU calls for broad-based reconciliation

The European Union urged Libya's interim rulers to push for a broad-based reconciliation in the country following the death of deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron said that Gaddafi's death held out the promise of a better future for the people he ruled for four decades.

23/09/2011 | World

EU says 420 billion euros injected into Europe's banks

European banks have already received 420 billion euros in funds to help recapitalize and are in a much better shape than three years ago, the European Commission said.

29/09/2011 | World

Greece resumes talks with auditors amid protests

Civil servants blockaded several ministries to protest against austerity measures as Greece resumed talks with EU and IMF inspectors on an 8 billion euro aid tranche it needs to avoid bankruptcy next month.

06/10/2011 | World

US Geithner: European crisis poses risk to global recovery

Europe's worsening debt crisis could significantly damage the US economy, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned today as he urged Europe to shore up its bailout fund.

18/09/2011 | World

Greece braces for more austerity to avert default

Greece today pledged to take the tough decisions needed to avoid default but announced no new austerity measures to secure international bailout funds next month.

19/09/2011 | World

Greece inches closer to deal on aid

Greece hopes to clinch a deal with its lenders on Tuesday for continued aid funding, an official said, after it pledged to take on as much austerity as needed to avoid a default that could trigger deeper turmoil on already shaky global markets.

22/09/2011 | World

Seven world leaders urge Europe to take action against debt crisis

As ministers gathered in Washington for meetings of the Group of 20 and International Monetary Fund, an open letter to G20 president France from the leaders of Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Britain, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea stressed the threat of the euro zone crisis spreading worldwide.

01/09/2011 | World

EU says lifts sanctions on Libyan ports

The European Union has decided to end its sanctions on six Libyan ports, several oil firms and banks, the EU foreign policy chief said today.

02/09/2011 | World

EU agrees to ban crude from Syria

European Union governments agreed to ban imports of Syrian oil in a move to strengthen economic pressure on the President Bashar al-Assad and his government, EU diplomats and officials said.

17/09/2011 | World

EU finance ministers break no new ground on debt crisis

EU finance ministers broke no new ground in dealing with the euro zone debt crisis in discussions over the weekend, instead absorbing some ideas and rejecting others and taking stock of progress on agreed steps.

04/08/2011 | World

European Union calls for re-assessment of bailout funds

Today, the European Commission called for a re-assessment of all elements of the euro zone's current and future bailout funds, including size, to persuade markets the euro zone can respond to the debt crisis.

11/08/2011 | World

Sarkozy, Merkel to discuss eurozone and debt crisis in Paris on Tuesday

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will discuss next Tuesday how to make the euro zone work more effectively amid persistent doubts in financial markets over Europe's ability to solve its sovereign debt crisis.

24/08/2011 | World

Syrian forces raid eastern towns, EU may embargo oil

Syrian forces killed one person and arrested dozens in raids on an eastern tribal region today as part of a crackdown on dissent which could lead to European Union oil sanctions on Damascus as early as next week.

20/07/2011 | World

EU's Barroso warns of economic damage if Greece summit fails

EU leaders must find a convincing solution to Greece's debt crisis at a summit tomorrow or the global economy will pay the price, the head of the European Commission said in an unusually somber warning.

21/07/2011 | World

Statement by the Heads of State or government of the Euro area and EU Institutions

Statement issued by euro zone leaders after an emergency summit of the 17-nation currency area.

22/07/2011 | World

The World reacts: US, EU and NATO condemn the attack

07/07/2011 | World

New Greek aid package awaits private sector buy-in

International bankers and European Union officials made no progress today in securing a private sector contribution for a second bailout of Greece and bond yields climbed on concern about the scheme.

12/07/2011 | World

Greece must prove itself on world stage, says minister

Greece must unite behind its austerity plan to secure a stronger bargaining position on the world financial stage, its finance minister said today but his deputy cast doubt on important privatization targets. Euro zone finance ministers completed talks in Brussels yesterday promising cheaper loans, longer maturities and a more flexible rescue fund to help Greece and other EU debtors and stop financial contagion.

20/07/2011 | World

EU: 'This is a further important step for Serbia in realising its European perspective'

Serbia has taken another important step towards fulfilling its European Union ambitions with the arrest of its last major wartime fugitive, the EU said.

30/06/2011 | World

EU says way clear to approve Greek aid

The Greek parliament's vote in favour of austerity plans today clears the way for approval of the next tranche of its bailout and for progress on a new round of financial help, the EU's top two officials said.

05/07/2011 | World

NATO and European Union to receive Libyan rebels

Libyan rebel leaders are expected to visit Brussels next week for talks with NATO and European Union officials, diplomats said today

05/07/2011 | World

Moody's cuts Portugal to junk, warns on 2nd bailout

Moody's cut Portugal's credit standing to junk in the first such move by a ratings agency and warned the country may well need a second round of rescue funds before it can return to capital markets.

29/06/2011 | World

Violence escalates after austerity plan approval

Outside parliament, fierce clashes raged between stone-throwing masked youths and riot police, who fired clouds of teargas from behind steel crash barriers to keep the rioters at bay. Syntagma Square resembled a battle zone at times.

29/06/2011 | World

Greek parliament approves 5-year austerity plan

Greece's parliament approved deeply unpopular austerity measures despite worsening violence today, in a vote vital toward securing international funds and preventing the euro zone's first sovereign default.

30/06/2011 | World

Greek parliament approves implementation of austerity law

The Greek parliament approved detailed austerity and privatization bills today in a crucial vote to secure emergency funds and avert imminent bankruptcy, but longer-term dangers still lurk.

28/06/2011 | World

Heavy clashes erupt in Greece

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the Greek parliament today at the start of a two-day strike against the unpopular austerity measures package to be voted by the house. Heavy confrontations erupted throughout the capital streets as Greek police clashed with groups of hooded youths in central Athens.

28/06/2011 | World

US backs Lagarde for IMF top job

The United States formally offered its backing today for French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde to take over the top job at the International Monetary Fund, ensuring a win for her over Mexico's Central Bank Governor Agustin Carstens.

28/06/2011 | World

Portugal gov’t submits programme for bailout

Portugal's new centre-right government submitted today to parliament a four-year programme, promising to strictly fulfill the country's obligations under a 78-billion euro international bailout.

24/06/2011 | World

Athens struggles for support, Finance Ministers to meet

Greece's new Finance Minister Evangelos said today he would meet his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble to discuss how to return Greece's economy to growth after three years of recession. "We have agreed with Schaeuble to meet in Berlin to discuss growth issues," Venizelos told parliament's economic affairs committee.

24/06/2011 | World

EU appoints Draghi to European Central Bank

EU leaders appointed today Italy's Mario Draghi as the next president of the European Central Bank but it was unclear whether another Italian on the ECB's Executive Board would step down to smooth the process.

24/06/2011 | World

European Union toughens immigration stands

European Union leaders agreed today to tighten migration safeguards, including potentially reintroducing border controls between states, in a controversial response to an influx of migrants fleeing North Africa's upheaval.

21/06/2011 | World

Eurostat: Luxembourg richest, Bulgaria poorest in EU

Luxembourg is by far the richest country in the European Union in terms of gross domestic product per capita, more than six times more affluent than the 27-nation bloc's poorest member Bulgaria, data showed.

22/06/2011 | World

Europe keeps pressure to push forward austerity plan

Europe kept the pressure on Greece to push forward with a painful austerity programme today after the government jumped a crucial hurdle in averting the euro zone's first debt default.

23/06/2011 | World

European Parliament endorses Draghi as Central Bank President

The European Parliament formally endorsed Italy's Mario Draghi to be the next president of the European Central Bank today.

17/06/2011 | World

Greek turmoil: Prime Minister sacrifices finance chief

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou sacrificed his finance minister today and put his main socialist party rival into the job in a bid to force through an unpopular austerity plan to avert bankruptcy.

20/06/2011 | World

EU and IMF inspectors head to Greece on unexpected visit

International lenders are making an unexpected visit to Athens after euro zone countries piled pressure on Greece not to backslide on painful reforms that have caused public outrage.

21/06/2011 | World

Greek government wins vote of confidence

Greece's embattled government survived a confidence vote crucial to avoiding a sovereign default, as thousands of protesters chanted insults outside parliament.

06/06/2011 | World

EU may agree aid for farmers hurt by E.coli outbreak

European Union farm ministers will try tomorrow to agree financial aid for fruit and vegetable producers whose sales have been hit by an E.coli outbreak that has so far claimed at least 22 lives in Europe.

07/06/2011 | World

Executive to recommend Croatia accession to European Union

The European Commission is set to recommend that EU member governments finalize accession talks with Croatia, clearing an important hurdle on Zagreb's path to joining the 27-strong bloc, a source said.

08/06/2011 | World

Germany puts Greek restructuring back on table

Germany has put a Greek restructuring back on the table, demanding in a letter to its EU partners that private bond holders make a major contribution to a looming debt relief deal for the struggling euro zone member.

16/05/2011 | World

Euro zone backs Portugal bailout with Finnish conditions

Euro zone finance ministers approved a three-year, 78-billion euro emergency loan programme for Portugal and said Lisbon would ask private bondholders to maintain their exposure to its debt.

26/05/2011 | World

Sarkozy says Mladic arrest brings Serbia nearer EU

French President Nicolas Sarkozy applauded Serbia's arrest of top warcrimes suspect Ratko Mladic, calling it a courageous move that brought Serbia a step closer to future EU integration.

01/06/2011 | World

Europe struggles towards new Greek bailout deal

The stakes keep rising in a multi-dimensional poker game over Greece's debt crisis, but none of the key stakeholders appears to have any interest in pushing Athens into default.

11/05/2011 | World

Greeks strike as EU and IMF start key visit

Police fired tear gas at dozens of youths hurling stones in central Athens and a strike against austerity brought much of Greece to a halt during talks on the next slice of a bailout package.Police said 17 demonstrators and two policemen were hurt in the clashes.

13/05/2011 | World

EU says Greece needs more measures to meet bailout terms

Euro zone policymakers piled pressure on Greece to drive through more austerity after bleak economic forecasts showed the debt-choked country would miss fiscal targets without further reforms.

13/05/2011 | World

Doha impasse lingers as gaps between the main players remain large

The world's main trading nations remain divided over a global trade deal despite a compromise plan put forward by the European Union to rescue the stalled Doha trade round, the EU's trade chief said.

12/04/2011 | World

Portugal starts bailout talks; deal seen

Portugal launched talks with European authorities and the IMF on a bailout the caretaker government says is needed to cover the country's financing from June, as politicians jostled ahead of a general election.

03/05/2011 | World

Portugal agrees EU/IMF bailout, Greece deal teeters

Portugal agreed a three-year 78-billion-euro ($116 billion) bailout with the European Union and IMF, making it the third euro zone country in a year, after Ireland and Greece, to need financial help.

10/05/2011 | World

Iran tells EU next atom talks must be without pressure

Iran's nuclear negotiator has said the next talks with world powers must be held without pressure, which analysts said indicated Tehran would stick to its refusal to address its uranium enrichment drive.

18/03/2011 | World

UK to deploy planes for operation as Libya shuts airspace to all traffic

Britain will imminently start moving fighter jets to bases from where they can help enforce a no fly zone over Libya, Prime Minister David Cameron said.

23/03/2011 | World

Austerity measures continue to rattle Portugal

Portugal's parliament is expected to reject government austerity measures today, setting the stage for the possible collapse of the minority Socialist administration a day before a European summit.

08/04/2011 | World

Portugal must agree 'harder' reforms to get aid, euro zone ministers say

Euro zone finance ministers told Portugal that it would have to implement new economic reforms that went beyond those proposed by its outgoing government if it hoped to secure aid from the EU and IMF.

21/02/2011 | World

EU condemns Libyan repression, worried on migrants

European Union foreign ministers condemned the killing of anti-government protesters in Libya as they met to discuss the fallout from the wave of unrest sweeping North Africa and the Middle East.

23/02/2011 | World

EU evacuates thousands from Libya

"There are around 10,000 EU citizens in Libya. The operation of evacuation has started with EU member states," the spokesman said during a regular news briefing of the European Commission.

09/03/2011 | World

Italy says will back UN, EU, NATO decisions on Libya

Italy, whose bases are likely to play a key role in any military action regarding Libya, will back any decisions taken by the United Nations, the European Union or NATO, the president's office said.

11/02/2011 | World

EU, IMF approve new Greek aid, demand to speed up reforms

EU and IMF inspectors gave the green light for a new 15 billion euros tranche of aid for Greece but said progress was too slow and urged Athens to speed up reforms to meet the targets of its bailout deal.

12/02/2011 | World

Greece slams EU, IMF officials after inspection visit

Greece accused the EU and IMF of interfering in its domestic affairs after the international lenders said Athens must speed up reforms and sell more public assets.

20/02/2011 | World

EU calls for immediate end of violence in Libya

The European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called on the Libyan authorities to immediately put a stop to violence against anti-government protesters and begin broad-based dialogue on reforms.

13/12/2010 | World

EU launches Ivorian sanctions as tensions grow

The European Union imposed sanctions targeting Ivory Coast incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and his allies, raising international pressure on him to quit after a disputed election.

15/12/2010 | World

Ireland passes bailout package despite opposition

Ireland's parliament approved a multi-billion euro EU/IMF bailout package in the face of opposition threats to renegotiate the deal to force losses on some senior bondholders in Irish banks.

07/02/2011 | World

One-third of EU computers hit by a virus in 2010

As Europeans cough and sniffle their way through another flu season, new data shows their computers are also quite likely to catch a bug.

08/03/2011 | Latin America

European Parliament passes 'highly critical' report on EU - Mercosur trade agreement

The European Parliament passed a highly critical report on trade negotiations between the EU and the Mercosur bloc for considering that they may imply “farming concessions damaging to European producers.”