WIDE-RANGING reforms to the asylum and refugee procedures have been proposed by the European Commission.

THE European Union is considering proposals to introduce VAT to certain consumer goods in Ireland, including children’s shoes and clothes.

ANTI-FRAUD officers are investigating claims that millions of euro have beensiphoned off from contracts for cleaning EU offices.

GERMANY’S finance minister has made a blistering attack on Ireland’s low corporate tax rate and accused the country of using EU money to fund unfair competition.

POLITICIANS are battling it out over climate change at the G8 this week in Germany but it is becoming difficult to follow the twists and turns of this issue.

A CAMPAIGN was launched yesterday to tackle backache, the single biggest ailment workers complain of, especially those in nursing, construction and agriculture.

A MINI-TREATY, as suggested by French President Nicholas Sarkozy to replace the stalled EU constitution, is off the agenda, according to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A TUBERCULOSIS patient under the first US federal quarantine since 1963 left an Atlanta hospital yesterday and arrived at a Denver facility that specialises in respiratory disorders, officials said.

LEGISLATION is in the pipeline to clamp down on timeshare rogue traders and to extend protection for holidaymakers.

THE European Union’s health chief proposed an EU-wide organ donor card yesterday after a survey showed most Europeans support using such cards but only 12% actually carry one.