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.

EU ENVIRONMENT ministers have agreed unanimously to cut CO2 emissions by an average of 20% across the Union by 2020 in a follow-up to the Kyoto agreement on global warming.

IRELAND and 13 other EU member states facilitated the illegal kidnapping and secret jailing of terror suspects by turning a blind eye to US activities, a European Parliament report said yesterday.

SCHOOLS, old people’s homes, jails and charities could soon be receiving free fresh fruit and vegetables paid for by the European Union (EU).