SLOVAKIA’S government lost a confidence vote called over a plan to bolster the eurozone’s rescue fund, but the package is expected to go through in a later re-vote because the outgoing prime minister planned to ask for help from the opposition.

“A GOOD start, but more to do” was the response from Brussels on the Government’s four-year programme.

THE battle to harmonise tax rates across Europe is likely to hot up rather than disappear over the next few months, despite the elimination of potential loop-holes in the new Constitution.