The first steps in enlarging and creating genuine cross-border capital markets in the EU were announced by the Euroepan Commission with the potential to raise an additional €90bn of funds for business.

Paid maternity leave, air quality and waste recycling rules will be scrapped by the European Commission, while a new fruit and veg scheme for schools and organic product rules have been put on a watch list.

All across the EU next May, citizens will vote in a new crop of politicians to the European Parliament who will make decisions on thousands of pieces of legislation that affect their everyday lives.

AS THE only country to have a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty all eyes now shift to Ireland following the official signing of the treaty document in Lisbon yesterday.