WOMEN are the backbone of the agricultural sector, according to Copa, the European farmers’ union.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin is planning to tour war-torn regions of Georgia and South Ossetia when he meets peace observers in the region, it emerged tonight.

Brian Crowley has said the 'Eurosceptic views' of the Czech President Vaclav Klaus are not shared by the Irish people.

The Czech President has accused EU leaders of restricting democracy over the manner in which they have handled Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon treaty.

A member of the Government’s Rapid Response Corps is being despatched to Georgia to help victims of the conflict with Russia.

Europe’s leaders will stamp their carbon footprint all over Europe’s new reform treaty this week.

The European Union and Nato today condemned North Korea’s nuclear test, saying it endangered peace around the world.

Tony Blair appeared set to surrender more of Britain’s European Union rebate tonight in a bid to resolve the budget crisis.

THE net tightened yesterday on Irish criminals with assets in other European countries with the establishment of an EU recovery agency.

ALMOST two years after a dedicated traffic corps was first promised by the Government, neither the Department of Transport nor the Department of Justice can say when the measure will finally be introduced.

OPPOSITION politicians have attacked the Government for establishing diplomatic relations with the Myanmar regime without any debate in the Dáil.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday warned that a resolution of the EU Constitution impasse would become much more difficult after this summer's European elections.

Blue might be the official colour for the EU Presidency, but pink, purple and stripes seem to be the order of the day so far for the politicians.

THE flights of up to 25 EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers will be deliberately targeted by a SIPTU Aer Rianta strike next week.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, has held top level talks with his Swiss counterpart in Dublin today.

The Government could face embarrassment next week after airport staff today threatened industrial action during the six-month EU Presidency.

The EU Presidency will cost Irish taxpayers approximately €500,000 for every day this country is in charge and the total bill will be above €90m.

HEALTH Minister Micheál Martin said yesterday he was confident the smoking ban will be introduced in the coming months.

The Dalai Lama's European representative has held talks with the government to try and secure EU support for the struggle in Tibet.