Rural dwellers’ access to ‘superfast’ broadband is at a 25% maximum versus the 89% coverage accessible to those living in Dublin, according to a new EU study.

Ryanair has described as “rumour and speculation” reports it has offered to pull a number of Aer Lingus routes if it is allowed to take over the rival airline.

The Dutch government, one of the most vocal critics of European countries failing to rein in their budgets, quit after failing to agree on a plan to bring its own deficit in line with EU rules.

More cuts in mobile phone roaming charges are on the way — the latest move towards reducing the gap between domestic and foreign call rates to almost nothing by 2015.

A bid to scrap all mobile phone “roaming” charges by 2014 was defeated today, as a war of words broke out between the European Commission and Vodafone over a continued crackdown on the sector.

Greek prime minister Lucas Papademos was yesterday shuttling over and back between the troika, the creditor banks and political party leaders desperately trying to conclude a deal on new austerity measures.

Greece was fighting to avoid economic disaster tonight amid political stalemate, nationwide strikes and controversial claims that the country could leave the eurozone without triggering a single currency crisis.

Greece leaving the eurozone would not be a disaster for the other single members, a European Union commissioner said today.

Europe’s commissioner for the digital agenda Neelie Kroes today vowed to sort out confusion surrounding cross-border access to film, music and pay-per-view football games.

MOBILE phone operators who charge customers three times more for their calls when abroad are facing a raft of new rules to force them to drop their prices.

MORE cuts in mobile phone roaming charges apply today — with the European Commission intent on closing the gap between domestic and foreign call rates to “almost zero” by 2015.

ONLY two social networking sites protect the privacy of minors by default, an EU study has shown.

A new EU-wide hotline for missing children comes into effect today, which is International Missing Children's Day.

The European Commission issued a new warning to mobile phone operators today to open up competition and cut charges to customers for using their phones abroad.

BUSINESSES with branches in different EU member states could have the same telephone number for customer support under a suggestion floated by the European Commission.

Plans to prop up part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) will be put to a shareholder vote today.

The European Commission today approved massive government cash support and major restructuring plans for Royal Bank of Scotland – the largest state aid package to any company in the EU’s history.

Banks and bankers were slammed as out of touch by Europe’s fair competition chief this afternoon.

European Commission backing for the sell-off of Northern Rock raised hopes today of a UK government clawback of taxpayers’ cash ploughed into the nationalised bank.

IRISH consumers are paying 20% more than they should for medicines because pharmaceutical companies are doing deals to prevent cheaper medicines coming on the market.

The European Commission today ruled out any swift approval of the UK government’s plans for a £3bn (€3.5bn) cash injection for Northern Rock.

THE nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank is being examined by the European Commission to ensure it complies with state aid rules.

The European Commission will be investigating the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank to ensure the move is line with EU state aid and fair competition rules, a Commission spokesman said today.

CONSUMERS are being ripped off by large retail stores which are failing to pass on the benefits of the falling value of sterling, Dublin MEP Eoin Ryan says.

Top European officials are to investigate a €50m aid package the Polish Government used to attract computer giant Dell away from Ireland, it was confirmed tonight.

EU state aid rules on bank guarantee schemes and re-capitilisation are being reviewed urgently to enable faster decisions by the commission.

INTERNAL market commissioner Charlie McCreevy has been harshly criticised by the leader of the Socialist group in the European Parliament.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has assured the European Commission that the Government’s plans to guarantee bank deposits would avoid distorting financial markets across the EU.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan tonight assured the European Commission that his government’s plans to guarantee bank deposits would avoid distorting financial markets across the EU.

IRELAND was under increasing pressure yesterday to submit its bank guarantee plan to the European Commission for clearance amid claims that it breaches EU state aid rules.

The Financial Regulator is giving its backing to the Government's plan to underwrite the loans and deposits of six Irish banks.

The Government’s decision to guarantee the debts and deposits of the country’s six largest banks drew a thinly-veiled attack from the Brussels Commission today.

The European Commission today approved the British government’s rescue package to bail-out mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley.

Rolling Stone Mick Jagger joined a new group today – of consumer and industry chiefs drawing up an online shopping report for the European Commission.

IT’S not enough that they are sickeningly beautiful, but most of the world’s top models are also multimillionaires — with the top five raking in $70 million (€45m) between them last year.

Microsoft has been fined a record €858m today by the the European Union for charging rivals too much for software information.

The European Commission has launched a major inquiry into the pharmaceuticals market – starting with surprise swoops on major companies across the continent.

A US official’s criticism of a European Union court ruling dismissing Microsoft’s monopoly abuse appeal was “totally unacceptable,” EU antitrust chief Neelie Kroes said today.

GLOBAL computer software giant, Microsoft, has been found guilty of abusing its dominant market position by freezing out competitors and must pay a record fine of €497 million as a result, the European Court in Luxembourg has found.

Ryanair’s takeover of Ireland’s national carrier Aer Lingus was blocked by the European Commission today as a threat to consumer choice and a recipe for higher fares.

Aer Lingus has welcomed the decision by the European Commission to block Ryanair's attempt to take over the State airline.

Ryanair’s takeover of Ireland’s national carrier Aer Lingus was blocked by the European Commission today as a threat to consumer choice and a recipe for higher fares.

US software giant Microsoft was threatened with new fines by the European Union today, after it was accused of failing to live up to legal promises.

Bank customers across Europe could see charges driven down following the publication of a critical report into the sector by the European Commission.