Brussels

EU probes KLM's planned acquisition of Martinair

Brussels  - The European Commission said Monday it was probing concerns that the planned acquisition by Dutch airline KLM of Martinair could leave passengers wishing to travel from Amsterdam to the Caribbean islands of Curacao and Aruba with less choice.

"The commission's initial market investigation indicated that the proposed acquisition might substantially reduce competition, and so raise serious doubts as to its compatibility with the (EU's) single market," the European Union executive said in a statement.

Officials in Brussels said they had decided to open an in-depth investigation after remedies proposed by KLM had failed to remove the EU's serious doubts" about the takeover.

Elections show Angola is consolidating its democracy, EU says

angola flagBrussels  - The positive outcome of Angola's first parliamentary elections in 16 years shows that the country is consolidating its democracy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Monday.

"After such a devastating war as the one Angola suffered, these elections are a step towards the consolidation of a multi-party democracy, a fundamental element for peace, stability, and socio- economic development," the head of the European Union's executive arm said in a statement.

The EU sent an election observation team to the country, and its final report was still due.

EU probes corruption allegations

European UnionBrussels - The European Anti-Fraud Office (Olaf) said Monday it had launched its own probe into reports that an EU official leaked valuable trade secrets concerning Chinese companies.

"OLAF has opened a case file today and is assessing the information," said an official from the independent body, which was set up in 1999 in a bid to boost transparency in Brussels.

The statement from Olaf follows the news that the European Commission had decided to open its own investigation into the case on Friday.

EU Commission welcomes election of Zadari as Pakistan president

EU Commission welcomes election of Zadari as Pakistan president Brussels  - Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, welcomed the election of Asif Ali Zardari as Pakistan's new president on Saturday.

"I trust that under your presidency the government will implement appropriate policies to meet the important economic and security challenges the country is currently facing," Barroso said.

IEA hails European model on climate change

International Energy Agency (IEA)Brussels - The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Thursday hailed the European Union's efforts to fight climate change as a model for the world to follow.

"The European Union is a leader of the global action to mitigate climate change through its bold and innovative energy policies," said Nobuo Tanaka, the IEA's executive director, at a press conference in Brussels.

In January, the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, unveiled a package of legal proposals designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions and boost the use of renewable energies.

EU clears Italian plans to fingerprint Roma

Brussels  - The European Commission on Thursday cleared controversial plans by Italy to fingerprint its Roma residents after the government agreed to make changes enabling them to comply with European Union rules.

A spokesman for the EU's top justice official, Jacques Barrot, said good cooperation between the European Commission and the Italian government had made it possible to "correct any debatable measures or provisions."

In June, the centre-right government of Silvio Berlusconi proposed fingerprinting ethnic Roma, including children, as part of efforts to obtain more reliable information about their numbers, schooling arrangements and living conditions.

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