RIGHTS: &#39A Fifth of European Children in Poverty&#39

Nearly one-fifth of children in the European Union are living in poverty, a new report has concluded.

ROMANIA: Fighting for the ‘Right’ to More Emissions

Following the example of seven other countries from Central and Eastern Europe that joined the European Union (EU) in 2004, Romania and Bulgaria, the newest members, have sued the European Commission (EC) for lowering their national caps for carbon dioxide emissions.

BALKANS: Discrimination Rife Within Kosovo

In the northern part of the ethnically divided city Mitrovica, 38 km north of Kosovo capital Pristina, 60 people have occupied an abandoned two-floor building. Among them is Alexander Damianovic, of Serbian ethnic origin, who arrived in Mitrovica in 2001 after transiting through various places in former Yugoslavia.

GREECE: Defending Nationalism In The Air

The European Commission (EC) announced a formal investigation Dec. 20 into complaints that the Greek state is illegally subsidising its national air carrier.

GEORGIA: Protests Rise Over Elections

Leading opposition candidate Levan Gachechiladze has accused the Georgian government of widespread fraud in the last presidential election after the Central Election Commission released the final results declaring Mikheil Saakashvikli winner and new president.

HUNGARY: Reform Drive Hits a Wall

The introduction of some of the most wide-ranging austerity measures in the recent history of Central-Eastern Europe is forcing Hungarians to endure a period of hardships, but an opposition-initiated referendum and the resistance of the middle classes are endangering the socialist government's plans.

BALKANS: Art Breaks Some Ice

An exhibition presented by Serbia in Croatian capital Zagreb is doing its bit to thaw icy relations between Serbs and Croats, who fought one another in the bloody war of disintegration of former Yugoslavia.

Q&A: &#39Everybody Leaves the Forum Happier, Wiser and Stronger&#39

Roberto Savio is probably among the best informed insiders at the World Social Forum (WSF). He has been on its international committee since it was created in 2001, and since 2003 he has been coordinator of the 'media, culture and counter-hegemony' thematic area.

HEALTH-SPAIN: Abortion – Education not Repression, Say Activists

Abortion clinics in Spain went on a five-day strike Tuesday to protest arrests of clinic personnel in Barcelona, the capital of the northeastern region of Catalonia.

PORTUGAL: Gap Between Rich and Poor Yawning Wider and Wider

The gap between rich and poor is still widening in Portugal, the country with the greatest social disparity in the European Union. Despite having a socialist government in office for nearly three years, there has been no reversal of this trend.

EUROPE: Call to Keep Water Clean of Privatisation

Water supply could increasingly be managed by private firms once a new European Union treaty enters into force, experts warned Monday.

ENVIRONMENT-SPAIN: Clean Energy, Questionable Business Practices

Renewable energy sources enjoy excellent prospects in Spain, but there are complaints about business practices in the energy sector and the lack of effective enforcement of environmental standards.

BALKANS: Serbs Wait For Free Wealth

Going by official media, the Kosovo dispute seems to top the nation's agenda. But Serbs have their mind more on visions of free wealth that they believe will be theirs, after the Law on Free Distribution of Shares came into force last week.

GEORGIA: President Re-Elected In Disputed Poll

Mikheil Saakashvili has been elected to a second term of presidency amid electoral disputes. He leads with 55.23 percent of the vote, followed by opposition candidate Levan Gachechiladze with 23.86 percent.

EUROPE: Little Slovenia Takes Charge

Slovenia saw one of the greatest honours in its short history of 16 years as an independent state Jan. 1 when it took the rotating presidency of the 27-member European Union (EU) for the next six months.

SPAIN: Sparks Fly Between Church and Government

The Spanish Catholic Church "has strayed from the fundamentals of democracy," said the governing socialist party (PSOE) Wednesday, in response to harsh criticism from the Church leadership.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Corruption Returns to Haunt Government

Former deputy prime minister Jiri Cunek intends to return to his post in spite of public rejection of the alleged corruption scandals involving him.

CHALLENGES 2007-2008: Cracks Widen in East Europe

Ideological issues, corruption and populism pervade the political culture of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland at a time when both economic reform and an improvement in living standards are being promised to bridge the gap with the West.

ENERGY: German Biodiesel Forced to Compete

Until a few months ago, the production of crop-based fuels was the best energy business imaginable in Germany, thanks to growing demand supported by the government. That's no longer the case.

HEALTH: Nuclear Plants Raise Leukaemia Threat

It has been a miserable month for the Brosowskys, a German family in the small city of Marschacht.

CHALLENGES 2007-2008: Still Outsiders After a Year in EU

Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union (EU) Jan. 1 2007 under the toughest conditions ever imposed on new member states. Although the two countries barely met the criteria for membership, their strategic location, between the Western Balkans and the Black Sea, as well as their relatively trouble-free domestic politics, made them an asset for the stability of EU's eastern front.