All EU states except Britain moved toward setting up a new treaty yesterday, giving up crucial powers over their own budgets in an attempt to overcome a crippling debt crisis.

BRITAIN opened up the possibility of a two-speed EU with its decision to veto treaty change, isolating itself from the rest of the member states.

EU member states’ lawyers will immediately begin work on a new treaty with an eye to ensuring it does not trigger a referendum in any country.

CROATIA has signed a treaty to join the EU in 2013, a bittersweet milestone as the bloc prepared to take on a sluggish economy it will have to drag along at the time of its worst crisis.

THE EU stage is set for at least 12 hours of tough negotiations in what many see as a final bid to rescue the euro and which will again see Ireland fighting to retain its corporation tax policy.

READERS may be paying double what an ebook really costs every time they download one online, due to an arrangement between five of the world’s major publishers and Apple.

UP to 1,250 Aviva workers facing redundancy will lose out on retraining grants from the EU while money for TalkTalk employees hangs in the balance.

ECB President Mario Draghi gave an important signal that he approves of the direction being taken by eurozone governments towards a fiscal union and possible eurobonds, creating optimism that the ECB will step in with its massive support.

IN A co-ordinated move, the world’s major banks yesterday provided cheap dollar funding for Europe’s banks in what is seen as a first major step to save the single currency.

CONSUMERS are losing over €22 billion a year buying faulty goods for which they cannot get replacements or their money refunded.