The European Parliament's chief Brexit coordinator has criticised British calls for "flexibility" in the exit talks, claiming the EU bent over backwards to please Britain for years.

Like a spoilt child, Britain has announced that it wants it all, and then some more, writes Elaine Loughlin.

Further integration between EU states is required to deal with the economic crisis in Europe, Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the European Parliament in Strasbourg today.

The European Union and Hungary brought their fight over democratic rights fully into the open today with the EU Commission launching legal challenges against the former Soviet-bloc country many fear may be slipping back toward authoritarianism.

IRELAND twice lost the opportunity to have an Irish person as head of the European Commission, and once again the Government is reluctant to campaign for a citizen for high position.

FIANNA FÁIL MEPs got a dressing down for voting with their old Berlusconi allies in the European Parliament and defeating a motion put forward by their own group.

Belgian authorities today released 14 suspects detained over an alleged plot to free an al-Qaida prisoner because of lack of evidence, the Federal Prosecutor’s office said.

Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt faced frail men in dark fedoras and children in bright skullcaps today and solemnly apologised for the role Belgian authorities played in the deportation of Jews to Nazi extermination camps during the Second World War.

The transfer of confidential banking records by a Belgium-based company to US authorities for use in anti-terrorism investigations breached EU data privacy rules, the premier said today.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was today trying to persuade European nations to contribute troops to the United Nation’s expanded peacekeeping force for Lebanon, building on the momentum created by France’s promise to provide 2,000 more soldiers.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is the fourth highest-paid prime minister in Europe.

BELGIAN prime minister Guy Verhofstadt was recovering in hospital yesterday, after his chauffeur-driven car crashed into a concrete pillar near his home and overturned several times.

Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt is recovering in hospital today, after his chauffeur-driven car crashed into a concrete pillar near his home and overturned several times.

EUROPE'S leaders buried their differences just long enough to agree a constitution last night, but failed to agree on the important post of commission president.

Irish interests are being overlooked as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern presses other member states to endorse his flawed plan for a European Union Constitution, it was claimed today.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is reportedly set to nominate Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt as the next President of the European Commission.

Belgium today became the latest nation to call a referendum on the European Union constitution.

PAT COX'S chances of becoming the next president of the European Commission are fading as EU chiefs indicate they would prefer a former prime minister in the job.

BELGIUM Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt took office as head of a new centre-left government that immediately agreed to replace a war crimes law which has soured Belgium’s relations with the US.

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt tonight claimed victory in the country's elections.

The leaders of four European nations who opposed the US-led war in Iraq were meeting tomorrow to expand defence co-operation, prompting fears of more divisions within Nato and the EU.

Nato allies debated a Belgian proposal today to end a dispute over military aid for Turkey ahead of a possible war against Iraq.

Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen today deplored the exclusion of smaller EU nations from a summit called by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and said they will protest at such separate meetings.