EU INTERNAL Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy is fighting off criticism of his spending four days at Cheltenham races rather than attending to business in Brussels.

MEPs want to slash mobile phone roaming charges — not just for making calls but also for receiving and sending text messages and data.

IRISH women have joined the one million women in Europe who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to demand urgent action on the poor services available for the incurable disease.

THE Irish are Europe’s biggest binge drinkers and even increasing the price of alcohol by 25% would not make them drink less, claims an EU-wide survey.

IRISH consumers being ripped off by companies selling anything from insurance to holidays should be able to take US-style class actions to win compensation, the European Commission says.

PLUMMETING sales at airport duty free shops will be on the agenda for the EU-US summit next month, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has promised.

IRISH women are being paid almost 20% less than men despite being better educated, a major report on gender equality across Europe has found.

PESTICIDE residues in fruit and vegetables are being blamed for contributing to a rising rate of mental and behavioural disorders, especially in children.

IRISH teams shared in two of Europe’s most prestigious awards for work in the field of science in Brussels yesterday.

AN agreement that will revolutionise air traffic between Europe and America, cutting prices and increasing the number of flights, has been reached between the EU and the US.