European Union leaders are holding opening negotiations today on bringing Iceland into the EU - but only if it settles a €3.8bn dispute with Britain and The Netherlands after the 2008 meltdown of Icelandic banks.

The European Commission today recommended the launch of EU membership negotiations with Iceland.

Serbia is to formally apply for membership of the European Union, it has emerged.

Europe will slip into a political crisis if Poland blocks an agreement at next week's European Union summit on how to proceed with the failed EU Constitution, the head of the European Parliament warned today.

Christians in Turkey have today expressed fear that growing nationalism and intolerance could lead to more violence against them.

Bulgaria and Romania are now part of the European Union, expanding its membership to 27 states.

The blue-and-gold EU flag fluttered across Bucharest and strobe lights flashed through the sky today as Romania prepared to celebrate the country's induction into the European Union.

The European Union’s enlargement chief today recommended partially suspending membership talks with Turkey in a move to protest Ankara’s continued refusal to open its ports to EU member Cyprus.

IBEC have expressed disappointment at the Govt decision to insist on work permits for citizens from Bulgaria and Romania.

Bulgaria today deplored plans by some EU members to limit the access of Bulgarian and Romanian workers to their labour markets once the two Balkan countries join the EU on January 1, and said it would consider reciprocal measures.

Lower-skilled workers going to Britain from Romania and Bulgaria will initially only be able to work in the food processing and agricultural sectors, British home secretary John Reid announced today.

The Government has announced that it will be imposing restrictions on migrant workers from Romania and Bulgaria when the two countries join the EU in January.

John Reid will today set out plans to limit the number of workers going to Britain from Bulgaria and Romania when the countries join the EU next year.

EU leaders today backed bids by Romania and Bulgaria to join the 25-nation bloc next year, but urged the two Balkan countries to speed up essential reforms.

European Union leaders were today set to back Romania’s and Bulgaria’s bid to join the 25-nation bloc on January 1 next year, after urging the two Balkan countries to speed up reforms in problem areas.

European Union foreign ministers agreed on a common position to start detailed membership talks with Turkey today after resolving a stand-off with Cyprus, officials said.

The European Parliament today approved the entry of Bulgaria and Romania into the European Union in 2007, but said both countries still need to carry out necessary reforms.

Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned to Turkey early today to a hero’s welcome, as hundreds of supporters waved Turkish and European Union flags at the airport to celebrate a historic agreement to start EU membership talks next year.

Tony Blair has hailed the deal to begin accession talks with Turkey as "an immensely significant day for Europe".

European leaders today paved the way for Turkey to join the EU as its first Muslim country.

Turkey and the EU moved closer today to resolving differences over Turkish recognition of Cyprus, the key dispute preventing Ankara from accepting an offer to open membership talks next October.

Turkey was haggling over the small print of EU accession terms today.

The start of the second day of the EU summit was delayed as leaders struggled to resolve a dispute with Turkey over how to begin membership talks .

Turkey has been knocking on the EU’s door for more than 40 years, watching in frustration as other countries leapfrogged Ankara in the queue to join the Union.

The Prime Minister of Turkey was today giving a lecture outlining what the country could bring to the European Union.

European parliament president Pat Cox today received a prestigious international prize for his “outstanding personal contribution” to European unity.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today praised the garda handling of a riot which marred the EU enlargement celebrations in Dublin as it emerged two Britons, an American and a Swiss national were arrested.

Bertie Ahern and fellow European Union leaders put on a show of unity tonight as they celebrated the group’s historic expansion at a ceremonial summit in Dublin.

The flags of all 25 EU member states were raised together for the first time today in glorious Dublin sunshine.

Award winning poet Seamus Heaney wrote Beacons at Bealtaine especially to mark the historic Day of Welcomes in Dublin.

The Taoiseach has spent the afternoon receiving 27 heads of state and government at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has said the enlargement of the European Union is the beginning of a new chapter in our history.

The working people of the accession countries will be formally welcomed into the EU by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions this morning.

Leaders from across Europe set aside their concerns about the EU’s growing pains today to seal the entry of 10 nations into the European Union and mark the end of the continent’s Cold War divide.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has welcomed the ten new member states to the European Union.

Hundreds of thousands of people across the “new Europe” celebrated with street festivals today in a jubilant countdown to the European Union’s historic enlargement.

The arrival of the 10 newcomers to the European Union will be marked from midnight tonight with celebrations in all corners of the new 25-nation club.