BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union provisionally approved substantial new economic sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program on Friday, with senior diplomats giving their backing to measures against Tehran’s banking sector and industry.

The new sanctions will have to be formally approved on Monday at an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg before coming to effect.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission said on Wednesday Serbia was not ready to start accession talks with the EU because of its tensions with Kosovo, and criticized Turkey for its human rights record and insufficient reforms.

In its annual report on countries lining up to join the EU, the EU executive said Belgrade also had to make more effort to reform its justice system and protect the independence of its central bank.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union has begun discussing the possibility of a broad trade embargo against Iran, moving beyond the web of energy, business and financial restrictions imposed so far, in an effort to pressure Tehran not to build nuclear weapons.

Talks are advancing with extreme caution because of European governments’ traditional reluctance to impose measures that increase pain on a country’s citizens rather than on their government.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union is poised to ban imports of Iranian gas as part of a set of new measures to ratchet up pressure on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear programme, diplomats said on Thursday.

Diplomats from EU member states have started preparing a package of sanctions against Iran with a goal of formally adopting them at a meeting of foreign ministers on October 15 in Luxembourg.

BRUSSELS, Oct 4 (Reuters) – The European Union is poised to
ban imports of Iranian gas into Europe as part of its efforts to
ratchet up pressure on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear
programme, diplomats said on Thursday.

Diplomats from EU member states have started preparing a
package of sanctions against Iran with a goal of formally
adopting them at a meeting of foreign ministers on Oct. 15 in
Luxembourg.

BRUSSELS, Sept 13 (Reuters) – The European Union offered
Egypt economic aid of up to 700 million euros ($902 million) on
Thursday, showing how European governments are trying to build
ties with the Islamist rulers brought to power in Egypt’s first
free elections.

The pledge came as Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi made his
first trip to Europe since his election in June, hoping to
reassure the EU of his democratic credentials and win economic
aid as he looks to revive the broken economy.

BRUSSELS, Sept 13 (Reuters) – President Mohamed Mursi
travels to Brussels on Thursday for his first visit to Europe
since becoming Egypt’s first freely elected leader in June,
hoping to reassure the European Union of his democratic
credentials and win pledges of economic aid.

European governments are keen to build up ties with Egypt
after the collapse of Hosni Mubarak’s authoritarian rule last
year, but want assurances that Cairo’s Islamist government will
remain an ally of the West and an example to the region.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Egypt is likely to need more than $10 billion in external financing to help revive its economy, battered after a revolt that toppled the country’s authoritarian government last year, a senior EU official said on Wednesday.

The European Union and other institutions and countries are considering financial support for Egypt in addition to a $4.8 billion loan that Cairo has requested from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

PAPHOS, Cyprus (Reuters) – European governments must wield their influence and engineering skills more effectively to prevent conflicts over water supply that could threaten global security, the European Union’s policy chief Catherine Ashton said.

The EU has a strategic interest in ensuring stability in regions with some of the world’s biggest water problems, including North Africa after the Arab Spring revolts and Central Asia which holds crucial energy reserves.

NICOSIA/PAPHOS, Cyprus (Reuters) – The European Union may impose new sanctions on the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad as soon as next month, EU diplomats said on Saturday.

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said his EU counterparts meeting in Cyprus had agreed new sanctions were needed and had tasked Catherine Ashton, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, with preparing suggestions for talks next month.