Business groups and civil society relished the chance to grill the EU's new internal market commissioner, French politician Michel Barnier, at an event in Paris organised by EurActiv France. Barnier made clear that he was not a fan of self-regulation.

The Netherlands will not block the start of Iceland's accession talks with the European Union despite an ongoing dispute over repayment of lost bank savings, Dutch agency ANP quoted the Dutch foreign minister as saying on 18 March.

The number of journalists covering European Union affairs from Brussels is shrinking, according to International Press Association, which yesterday (18 March) called for the introduction of a "special statute" for media correspondents accredited to the EU institutions.  

The Czech Republic's leading power company, ČEZ, has promised to turn to energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly projects, but local NGOs say it must still improve its green energy strategy. EurActiv Czech Republic reports.

Governments attending the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) have rejected an EU-backed proposal to ban trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna to give the species time to reproduce.

In an interview to be broadcast ahead of an EU summit next week, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso says expelling a country from the euro zone, as suggested by German Chancellor Merkel, would be against EU treaty rules.

A debate about education targets in the proposed 'Europe 2020' strategy was removed from the agenda of an EU summit meeting next week after Germany expressed concerns that the proposed EU objective would step on its federal competences. EurActiv Germany reports.

In Europe, the European People's Party (EPP) was alone in denouncing communism, its secretary-general, Antonio López-Istúriz, declared in Brussels yesterday (18 March).

Greece has given what amounts to an ultimatum to the European Union to come up with a clear offer of standby loans next week or face the embarrassment of Athens asking the International Monetary Fund for help.

The European Parliament has reopened the debate on a revision of the EU's industrial air pollution directive, tabling a new proposal that seeks to compromise with member states by dropping controversial plans to introduce a 'European safety net' of minimum emission limits.

Lawmakers in the European Parliament's regional affairs committee voted yesterday (18 March) to simplify access to the EU's billions of regional funding, saying faster access is vital for tackling Europe's economic crisis. The new rules could be in place by the summer.