Attempts by three powerful EU finance ministers to call a halt to a deal on Irish bank debt were “absolutely crazy” according to the president of the Labour Party’s group in the European Parliament.

Germany has said it will push ahead with a growth compact now that Irish citizens have adopted the fiscal treaty, despite cuts and hardships which they said deserved special recognition and respect.

The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz has welcomed the outcome of the Fiscal Treaty referendum here.

PROPOSALS on corporate taxation, which are vehemently being rejected by Ireland, will be on the EU table as soon as possible, the commissioner-designate for taxation told MEPs.

Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union are bidding today to end a crisis which has left at least seven EU countries facing major gas shortages amid a winter freeze.

Zimbabwe’s blacklisted President Robert Mugabe is to be invited to a summit on European soil later this year – in the hope and expectation that he will refuse to turn up.

Italy's blunder-prone Rocco Buttiglione was under increasing pressure today to spare himself the sack and step down voluntarily from his new job as European Commissioner in charge of civil liberties.