European Union finance ministers are unlikely to decide to cut the number of European seats at the executive board of the International Monetary Fund any time soon, according to EU sources, despite pressure from the United States.

Bulgarian and Romanian nationals are more vulnerable to expulsions than other EU citizens in France, as they are still obliged to seek work permits before being allowed to take up residency in the country, Béligh Nabli, research director at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations (IRIS), told EurActiv France in an interview.

Long-term unemployment is a major problem in Slovakia, partly due to the fact that many people prefer to receive social benefits instead of slightly higher wages. The country hopes that the 'Europe 2020' strategy can help overcome this and other problems. EurActiv Slovakia reports.

Lawmakers from the far-right were the only ones to defend French President Nicolas Sarkozy's tough policies towards the Roma during a debate in the European Parliament yesterday (2 September).

Stimulating innovation and preventing companies from fleeing abroad are the keys to success for a new EU industrial policy, stressed French Industry Minister Christian Estrosi during a visit to Brussels yesterday (2 September). But one of the main potential weapons of the strategy, the controversial "country of origin" labelling, remains blocked at EU Council level.

EU energy ministers will meet at the beginning of next week for informal discussions which are expected to shed light on their positions related to the EU's upcoming new energy efficiency action plan. 

The European Commission is preparing a new Single Market Act designed to boost job creation and stimulate growth, according to an internal paper seen exclusively by EurActiv.

The Socialists may become the first to use the new European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in their bid to request new EU legislation on taxing financial speculation, according to their leader Martin Schulz.

The European Water Partnership (EWP), a non-profit organisation, is in the process of testing draft standards for sustainable water management in industrial production processes. Pilots will soon be launched for the agriculture sector and urban areas.

EU negotiators reached agreement yesterday (2 September) on a package of measures to beef up supervision of the bloc's banks, giving new EU watchdogs a mandate to overrule national authorities and ban risky financial products that were widely blamed for the world's worst recession in decades.

Turkey's main opposition party CHP has detailed its hostility to the constitutional amendments proposed by the ruling AK party, which will be voted upon in a referendum on 12 September.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's 3.8 million Muslim citizens moved a step closer to gaining visa-free travel to the Schengen zone after its parliament extended the mandate of the head of an anti-corruption agency on Wednesday (1 September).

The United States is behind the wall of secrecy surrounding global trade talks to combat counterfeiting, say EU policy sources, who claim that American officials are refusing to let their European counterparts publish the draft agreement online.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has deplored the absence of the European Union from direct talks between Israel and Palestine, which are due to start today (2 September) in Washington.

Public bodies and private companies will be obliged to stick to deadlines in paying their creditors to avoid high interest rates on their debt, according to a draft deal between the EU institutions on the recast of the Late Payments Directive.

A potentially damaging trade row has flared up between EU and Chinese trade authorities as China claims Europe has been unfairly subsidising potato starch exports.

Despite the EU's clearly-defined employment policies and 2020 job target, France will seek its own ways of responding to its citizens' main concerns – access to the job market and job security. EurActiv France reports.

On his first visit to Brussels, Polish President Bronisław Komorowski stressed his continued backing for European assistance to poorer regions and farmers ahead of EU budget talks later this year.

Working shorter hours could reduce the burden our lifestyles impose on the environment while offering solutions to the mass unemployment caused by the economic crisis, according to new research.

No public festivities in the US and no statements from the EU – so far. The announcement by the White House of the end of the Iraq war, which took the lives of more than 4,700 coalition troops - including many Europeans - came amid a muted atmosphere.

Time to register for the 2010 edition of EU’s young translator contest.

Water-borne disease is spreading quickly among Pakistan flood survivors, posing a threat of epidemics, the EU aid commissioner warns on her return from the country.