NEGOTIATIONS on the EU constitution are gaining pace as the Germans rush to hand over a workable package to the Portuguese on June 30.

WE all know James Bond drinks Martini but soon we could be up on Deirdre Barlow’s preferred brand of vodka and Dot Cotton’s breakfast cereal of choice.

SPENDING on pensions and health care for an ageing population will hit Ireland harder than most other EU economies, according to figures released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

THE rights of trade unions to take industrial action against the use of cheap labour from Eastern European nations were bolstered by recommendations issued at the European Court of Justice yesterday.

AUGUST holidaymakers are set to benefit from dramatic cuts of up to 80% in their roaming mobile phone bills, as EU law makers agree to cap the fees phone companies can charge.

IRELAND’S smokers are among the most inconsiderate in the EU with up to a third smoking around young children and pregnant women.

EU MINISTERS have cleared the way for consumers to take out loans of up to €100,000 from banks and lenders in other member states.

FAMILIES that employ illegal immigrants as domestic or childcare help would be among employers prosecuted and liable to major fines under proposals from the European Commission.

HOLIDAYMAKERS could see their mobile phone roaming costs slashed by up to 75% following a breakthrough in EU negotiations yesterday.

A SYSTEM to recruit essential skilled workers from Third World countries to fill job vacancies in the EU will be unveiled in Brussels today.