Everybody seems to love our Lucinda

THE Irish EU presidency is a challenge and an opportunity for the country over the next six months and the fallout could last a long time after that.

French troops in Mali concentrated on containing al Qaeda linked rebels in a town near the capital while the EU and African states rushed to support their action with troops and strategic supplies.

A bid to increase the number of women on the boards of large companies is in danger of being killed off with the help of many of the female members of the European Commission.

An action plan to ensure that human rights and democracy is part of the EU’s foreign policy has been adopted by the bloc’s foreign ministers.

The capture of Ratko Mladic was hailed this afternoon as a boost for Serbia, for Europe and for the country’s hopes of joining the European Union (EU).

THE EU was split over its response to the violence in Libya, with several countries warning against taking sides while others demanded stronger measures, including sanctions against Muammar Gaddafi.

EU ministers, afraid that extremists could take over in Egypt, have called for democratic reforms in the country, paving the way for free and fair elections but have not demanded that President Hosni Mubarak resigns.

David Cameron will today urge EU leaders to back a major new trade partnership between Europe and Pakistan in the wake of the worst floods in the country’s history.

Tony Blair will join EU foreign ministers today for talks on the prospects of easing the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.

ARE you ready for Lisbon III?

Taoiseach Brian Cowen this afternoon joins fellow EU leaders for a summit overshadowed by a slump in the single currency and by rifts over a bail-out for the crisis-hit Greek economy.

EU leaders including Taoiseach Brian Cowen will consider bailing out Greece today in a move to restore global confidence in the single currency.

MEPs joined Europe's new president Herman Van Rompuy today in calling for a stronger EU response to global disasters.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will hold talks with European Union President Herman van Rompuy in Downing Street today for the first time since the Belgian’s controversial appointment last year.

More than 1,100 EU citizens are among the missing in the Haiti earthquake, the European Commission said today.

The European Union is sending an initial emergency aid package to Haiti worth €3m following talks in Brussels led by new foreign affairs supremo Cathy Ashton.

THERE are four presidents involved in running the EU – the presidents of the commission, of the parliament, of the rotating presidency and of the council.

The Lisbon Treaty came into force today at the end of nearly eight years of controversy, debate and rebellion about the shape of the future European Union.

Europe has a new top duo of politicians this morning.

THE haggling over Europe’s top jobs ended quietly and quickly last night before the European Union’s 27 leaders even got to the main course of their dinner meeting.

Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has been chosen as the first

Tony Blair is out of the EU Presidency race.

Europe's new Trade Commissioner, Cathy Ashton, arrived in Geneva tonight for talks with the head of the World Trade Organisation, Pascal Lamy.