THE Czech prime minister got a tongue-lashing from members of the European Parliament yesterday when he told them the Lisbon treaty was worse than the Nice treaty and would not pass in his country.

CONTROVERSIAL state mortgages for people already rejected by the banks are being investigated by the European Commission.

IRELAND has been portrayed as a furry brown set of bagpipes, Bulgaria as a Turkish squat toilet, Belgium as a box of chocolates and Luxembourg as a gold bar.

THE EU is to introduce safety standards for all baby walkers made in, or imported, into Europe.

PESTICIDES with highly toxic chemicals that can cause cancer and other ailments are to be banned in the EU over the next few years in response to fears they damage human health and the environment.

There was cautious optimism last night that Russian gas will begin flowing into Europe again next week following agreement on monitors in both Russia and Ukraine.

Avril Doyle reflects on her political career with our Europe Correspondent Ann Cahill.

A THIRD of EU countries will lose their European Commissioner in November if Ireland rejects the Lisbon treaty again, Europe Minister Dick Roche has confirmed.

THE EU is investigating a €53 million aid package the Polish government has promised Dell for the plant that is resulting in the loss of 1,900 jobs in its Limerick operation.

REVISED legislation to ensure employees cannot be forced to work more than a 48-hour week under the terms of their employment was thrown out by the European Parliament yesterday when it voted for an amended version.