eu4journalists

RECOMMENDED READING

• OSCE says Ukraine election was impressive International monitors on Monday hailed Ukraine's presidential run-off vote as an "impressive" display of democracy and urged the nation's political leaders to ensure a peaceful transition of power.(Reuters)
• Loans alone will not save Greece Even as the European Union and the International Monetary Fund lay the groundwork for a giant first-round bailout, debate is swirling about whether Greece can avoid sovereign default.(Guardian UK)
• Europe Leans Toward Bluefin Trade Ban European officials are increasing pressure for an international ban on the commercial fishing of bluefin tuna, a threatened species whose fatty belly is prized for sushi. But they are facing a delicate balancing act as they try to weigh economic interests of a Mediterranean fishing industry, a sushi-loving Japan, and a species that some experts say is on the verge of extinction.(NYTimes)
• Euro zone faces biggest strains since launch Facing the most severe economic strains since its birth 11 years ago, the euro zone looks likely to hold together for now but the exit of some of its weaker members cannot be ruled out in the long term.(Reuters)
• Obama 'snub' does the EU a favour  Barack Obama, the president of the United States, has done the European Union a favour by casting doubt on his readiness to attend an EU-US summit. Obama's point-man on Europe, Philip Gordon this week told journalists in Washington, DC, that Obama had ?never had on his schedule a trip for a spring US-EU summit?. (European Voice)
• Berlusconi in hot water over Gaza 'suffering' Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, courted fresh controversy yesterday by comparing the plight of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to the suffering of victims of the Holocaust.(FT)
• Israel wants Rome's aid in blacklisting Iran's Guards Israel has asked Italy for help in getting the European Union to list the elite Revolutionary Guards of arch-foe Iran as a "terrorist group," a senior minister said on Tuesday.(AFP)
• EU-U.S. summit in doubt as Obama decides not to come The European Union and the United States are likely to scrap plans to hold a summit in Madrid in May because U.S. President Barack Obama has decided not to attend, EU diplomats said on Tuesday. (Reuters)