European Parliament chief Martin Schulz has launched a scathing attack on the German chancellor for promoting policies he says drive the borrowing costs of other euro-countries up, while Germany has just hit a record zero-percent interest rate on its bonds.

National Roma integration strategies submitted by member states to the commission fail to fully assess the needs of Europe's largest minority.

The court of human rights in Strasbourg has ruled that member states can decide whether to grant serious criminals the right to vote.

Eurostat is sending experts to Spain to check why its 2011 deficit is worse than previously declared.

A pilot phase for European infrastructure projects - part of plans to kickstart growth in Europe - is expected to be agreed ahead of a mid-week meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.