Europe is learning a hard lesson from Muslim immigrant experience

Ronan Mullen YOU might have thought the ability to drink alcohol and shake hands was essential for the smooth running of the EU, but you’d be wrong.

Last week, female European diplomats did not shake hands at a meeting with Iranian parliamentary delegates. And EU head of foreign affairs Javier Solana served up only coffee, fruit juice and water.

"The Iranians do not shake hands with women. It's their personal decision and they are our guests," a spokeswoman for Solana said.