Nairobi - The European Union is committed to increasing aid to developing countries despite the negative effects of the global financial crisis, an official from the European Commission's development department said Monday.

"The financial crisis can't be used as a pretext for cutting development support," Maciej Popowski, director for EU development policy horizontal issues, told journalists in a video conference. "We can't force anyone to meet their targets... but the EU is serious about its commitments."

Brussels  - The European Union is prepared to extend emergency financial assistance to Latvia, officials reported Saturday.

Berlin - Berlin refused to comment Friday on the arrest in Kosovo of three Germans in connection with an attack on the European Union (EU) headquarters in Pristina.

A German Government spokesman declined to be drawn on speculation about the possible involvement of Berlin's security services (BND) in the case and instead pointed to the ongoing investigations.

Madrid - Spain's opposition Thursday expressed concern over the possibility of the oil and gas company Repsol YPF coming partly under Russian control.

Companies from outside the European Union should not get involved with strategic sectors in Spain, Cristobal Montoro of the conservative People's Party (PP) said amid reports that the Russian oil giant Lukoil was planning to swoop for just under 30 per cent of Repsol's stock.

Stockholm- The Swedish parliament Thursday began to debate ratification of the European Union reform treaty, with opponents scrambling to postpone the ratification.

Five of the seven parties in the foreign affairs committee a week ago supported approval of the Lisbon Treaty in accordance with the government's recommendation.

Brussels - The European Union should lead international efforts to protect the Arctic region from global warming and from the resulting increase in the exploitation by humans of its natural resources, officials in Brussels said Thursday.

In a document submitted to the European Parliament and to member states, the European Commission warned that the Arctic region was becoming "increasingly at risk from the combined effects of climate change and increased human activity."