The new leaders of the European Union have an opportunity to focus on how economic growth should affect societies, President Michael D Higgins has said.

One of the oldest cities in the world, Lisbon has a captivating history. Reborn in recent years through European funding, it still has enough magic on its streets to leave Brian Canty enchanted.

In relation to Russian ambassador to Ireland Maxim Peshkov’s comments that future restrictions imposed on Russia would be a “double-edged blade” for the Irish economy, I would like to remind Mr Peshkov that it is not the prerogative of any state to bully another state into changing its policy or values, or indeed annexing the territory of a “brotherly nation”.

THE longstanding Irish policy of neutrality, an ongoing balancing act of several competing pressures — nationalism, the post-colonial relation with Britain, a burgeoning involvement with European politics — came under particular scrutiny in 1983.

German Chancellor Helmut Kohl told then Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald it would be possible to change Irish people’s “irrational” insistence on neutrality, newly declassified files reveal.

The Government is to provide €1m towards the relief effort for Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, where at least 10,000 people have died in one area.

The euro-sceptic UK Independence Party could become “the first force” in next year’s European elections, the President of the European Commission said today.

Pre-tax profits at the main Irish arm of money transfer giant, Western Union last year increased by 27% to $63.3m (€52.2m).

Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will not campaign for Britain to leave the EU in a referendum, warning that the UK would become “a sort of greater Switzerland” if it quit the 27-nation bloc.

Israel’s defence minister urged the world today to apply “paralysing” sanctions on Iran’s energy sector and leadership.

Sion yesterday announced they have filed a complaint against UEFA with the European Commission after the club was thrown out of the Europa League when they were found guilty of fielding ineligible players.

REVENUES at the main Irish arm of money transfer giant Western Union last year increased by 18% to $49.9 million (€34.5m), new accounts show.

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso has fully endorsed the candidacy of Christine Lagarde as the next head of the International Monetary Fund.

PATRICK Honohan is the new Michael O’Leary.

TOMORROW, we decide what kind of a country we will live in. We will decide what kind of prospects we will offer our children.

Ireland’s main cigarette brands privately warned the Taoiseach three decades ago that a tobacco advertising ban could plunge the country into disaster by sparking a deadly fusion of Marxists and the IRA.

British eurosceptic millionaire Stuart Wheeler clearly failed to establish that the British government promised a referendum on the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, two senior High Court judges ruled today.

THE primacy of EU law has been given as a reason for voting against the Lisbon Treaty.

ONE of the world’s most famous surrealist paintings, by Belgian artist René Magritte, depicts a pipe with the words underneath: “ceci n’est pas une pipe” — this is not a pipe.

The leaders of the 1916 Rising would be proud and amazed at the level of prosperity in Ireland attained under Bertie Ahern, it was claimed today.

THE health benefits of hundreds of Irish food products are to be thoroughly examined by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as part of an international set of standards for food labelling.

British Conservative party leader David Cameron is coming under increasing pressure from his own MPs to promise a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty – even if it is ratified before the Tories come to power.

As beef producers concern over the impact of imports from Brazil intensifies, it has been confirmed that a formal; complaint has been lodged with the EU and the Council of the European Union Ombudsman, Nikiforous Diarmandouros alleging "mal-administration for their failure to ban Brazilian beef imports".

THE Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) has launched its new Certificate of Commendation for restaurants and catering establishments who moved quickly to comply with the new legislation covering country of origin beef labelling.

Charles Haughey’s towering political presence cast a shadow over events in the North.

FRANCE and the Netherlands have rejected the EU constitution and the British prime minister, Tony Blair, is getting cold feet.

“IS it now a crime to be a conservative in Europe?” asked RTÉ’s Áine Lawlor last week. We must wait a week or more before we know the answer to that.

Robert Kilroy-Silk was centre stage again today at the launch of the UK Independence Party’s European election campaign.

I AM surprised that Dana Scallon (Irish Examiner, February 18), an MEP of over four years' experience, appears to be confused about the mention of the supremacy of European law in the proposed European constitution.

WAVING their pikes, they protested outside the gates of Dublin Castle in a scene reminiscent of the Year of the French.

The ISME today warned that the increasing levels of bureaucracy, regulation and red tape involved in doing business in Ireland is bad news for the ability of small firms to prosper.

UEFA have raised their concerns with British sports minister Richard Caborn about England’s remaining European Championship qualifier in Turkey.

I WAS disappointed by the misinformed letter from Dana Rosemary Scallon, MEP (Irish Examiner, June 24).

IT IS extremely worrying that in an effort to coax the unions towards a new partnership deal the Government is to promote the incorporation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in a new EU constitution.

ALL politics is local, they say. And for me, the farmers’ protest of 2003 will always be about my mother breaking four ribs in the cause of Irish agriculture.

IN a last-ditch attempt to get the ailing Railway Cup hurling and football competitions back on track, former Munster Council chairman and current trustee of the GAA, Noel Walsh of Clare, has revolutionary proposals to put to the next meeting of Central Council tomorrow week.

Irish MEP John Cushnahan has called on the EU to pressurise Ireland into scrapping Vehicle Registration Tax.

In the Dutch town where European leaders agreed to adopt a single European currency almost 10 years ago, builders were today wrapping up preparations for the national E-Day celebration.