Brussels - The European Union was deadlocked on Friday over whether or not to re-start talks with Russia over a strategic partnership that it froze on September 1, despite Russia's troop withdrawal from Georgia, diplomats admitted.

EU foreign ministers are set to meet on Monday in Luxembourg for the first formal debate on relations with Russia since the EU's leaders on September 1 vowed to freeze talks on the strategic deal.

Brussels  - The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, confirmed Friday that Russia has withdrawn its troops from Georgia's buffer zones, in accordance with an international deal.

"I am happy to announce that EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) patrols have confirmed that Russian armed forces have completed their planned withdrawal from the areas adjacent to Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Solana said in a statement.

London, Brussels - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged fellow-European leaders to adopt key aspects of Britain's multi-billion-pound banking rescue package in a "concerted international approach" to tackle the current global financial crisis.

Brussels - The European Union's foreign ministers face tough talks on Monday when they meet in Luxembourg to debate whether or not to push for closer ties with Russia and Belarus.

Brussels - The European Union's top foreign-policy official, Javier Solana, on Wednesday hailed Russian moves to pull out of parts of Georgia.

Brussels - Europeans who shop online need more protection against fraud, late deliveries and unfair sales conditions, the European Union's executive body said Wednesday as it proposed a package of measures to boost consumer protection.

Under the proposals from the European Commission, which have to be approved by EU member states, retailers anywhere in Europe will have to provide customers with information, such as the price of their product, including all taxes and shipping charges, and the retailer's identity and address.