SPAIN: Ban on Parties Leaves ETA Without Voice or Vote in Parliament

Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzón on Friday barred two small Basque country parties, considered political arms of ETA, from taking part in politics for three years - thus leaving the armed separatist group without voice or vote in parliament and without being able to hold public rallies or produce political ads.

SLOVAKIA: Media Bill Threatens EU Treaty

Slovakia's opposition is endangering approval of the EU Treaty through its protest against a media bill that it claims will endanger freedom of speech in Slovakia.

UKRAINE: WTO Membership Opens Door to West

It took 15 years for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to finally approve Ukraine's membership, the first step in what Ukrainian officials hope is the country's inevitable journey towards the European Union (EU).

GERMANY: Dating Agency for Disabled Shows Love Has No Barriers

"Living as a couple is the best dream come true," Volker Lauer told IPS, referring to his five-year relationship with Monika, who he met through a unique German dating agency for the disabled.

SERBIA: A Narrow Vote for Europe

Serbian voters have decided, in the tightest run-off so far, that their president for the next five years remains incumbent Boris Tadic, seen as the leader who can take the biggest nation in the Balkans closer to the EU.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Communists Could Turn Kingmakers

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, known for his sceptical remarks on EU integration and human-induced climate change, will seek re-election in a presidential vote that may be decided by the communists.

RIGHTS-EUROPE: Seeking Refuge Could Become Criminal

Plans by the European Union to allow police to study data on asylum-seekers have run into difficulty amid concerns that the move could result in victims of persecution being treated as criminal suspects.

ICELAND: Fishing Dispute Casts a Wide Net

Iceland must review its fishing management system within six months and pay compensation to two fishermen who were unfairly discriminated against, the European Committee of Human Rights has said.

GREECE: Police Show Lawyers A Brutal Face

Electra Floropoulou of the Lawyers Group for the Rights of Refugees and Migrants was not expecting the police to turn violent when she began taking photographs of the queue of migrants outside the Athens Directorate for Foreigners.

POLAND: Slowly Coming to Terms with Russia

The upcoming visit of newly elected Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to Russia signals a new sense of pragmatism in Poland's policies.

SPAIN: Gender Equality Law Triumphs over Rightwing Opposition

Spain’s Constitutional Court issued a ruling Wednesday backing a gender equality bill, which had been challenged by the rightwing Popular Party (PP), thus clearing the way for the new law to go into effect by Saturday.

ITALY: In A New Twist of Uncertainty

Following the resignation of prime minister Romano Prodi last week after just 20 months in office, the future of economic and social reforms due to be implemented by his centre-left government appears uncertain.

RUSSIA: Campaign to Elect New President Begins

The political campaign for election of a new president has begun, with President Vladimir Putin setting social policy as the tone for his party candidate.

UKRAINE: The Poison Is In The Politics

The investigation into the 2004 alleged poisoning of President Viktor Yushchenko when he was a candidate for the presidency remains unsolved, but there is no lack of chilling theories, some of which stain the President himself.

BALKANS: Serbia Signs Controversial Energy Deal with Russia

Russia and Serbia signed a "strategic" energy deal Friday.

EUROPE: Kosovo Sends Out Ripples of Fear

The possibility of Kosovo gaining independence has sparked a debate in central-eastern Europe on whether the Serbian region could set a precedent in prioritising the right to self-determination over state sovereignty.

EUROPE: Schengen ‘Wall’ Moves Further East

The enlargement of the Schengen free-travel zone has been celebrated as an opportunity to reunite Western and Eastern Europe, but those further east feel it was done at their expense, and some in the West have not welcomed the change.

ICELAND: Resistance Rises Against GM Imports

Icelanders are beginning to protest more forcefully against import of genetically modified food, leading the government to tighten regulations.

BALKANS: Kosovo Shadow Lengthens Over EU

Questions relating to Kosovo's future status will almost certainly be the key area of focus for diplomats dealing with the Balkans this year.

SERBIA: Preparing to Vote Really Between EU and Russia

The two leading candidates in the presidential elections Sunday headed into a second round Feb. 3 as expected. Less expected was the high turnout.

EUROPE: Sex, Lies and Suicides – the New Greek Tragedy

On Dec. 20, three days after his resignation as secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Christos Zahopoulos jumped from the fourth floor of his flat in Athens city centre. He has partly recovered but is going to face serious long-term health problems.