Romanian election result could spell danger for EU reforms

Romania’s opposition and ex-communist Social Democrats (PSD) appear to have won the country’s general elections, according to exit polls reported in the International Herald Tribune.

It says that two exit polls have shown the PSD capturing around 36 per cent of the vote over their rivals, prime minister Calin Tariceanu's Liberal PNL party, who won about 20 per cent. Another opposition group, the Democrat Liberal party (PDL), won 30-31 per cent, says the paper.

The result could mean a blow for the EU’s anti-corruption agenda in the country, the paper goes on, if the PSD manages to form a government.

However, the Financial Times says that final results could take days to come through, and even then it is likely to take even more time to form a coalition government.

The Irish Times says that a PSD pledge to increase social spending and lower taxes proved to be the winning ticket at a time of global economic slowdown.

Spanish MEP slams EU for lack of unity during Mumbai attacks

Spanish MEP and head of the EU-India delegation Ignasi Guardans has criticised the EU’s lack of coordination after the Mumbai attacks, says El País.

“Being a European citizen has counted for nothing in Mumbai, each member state independently helping their compatriots. Coordination on documents and information has been lacking,” he said after returning from a visit to the city.

Guardans intents to present a plan of action to EU leaders for the evacuation of European citizens from non-EU countries in the case of terrorist attacks or natural disasters. "There are moments in which Europe has to prove its existence," he added.

Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that the Indian government has raised the country's security to "war level" after it says it found a Pakistani link to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which the paper says claimed 170 lives.

And the Financial Times says that India's home minister became the first high-profile political casualty of the fallout of the attacks, resigning amid growing recriminations that the country's intelligence and security has been lax.

EU split ahead of UN climate talks

Talks on a global pact to succeed the Kyoto protocol begin today in Poland, reports Deutsche Welle, but are overshadowed by deep divisions among EU member states.

Italy and ex-communist countries are resisting pressure to cut emissions, says the website, while EU environment chief Stavros Dimas has vowed to push negotiations into a “higher gear”.

UK is considering joining euro, says EU commission chief

The head of the European commission has said that senior politicians in the UK government believe that Britain would now be financially better off had the country joined the euro, reports the Telegraph.

José Manuel Barroso said in an interview that that the UK is "closer than ever before" to entering the single currency, and added that "...some British politicians have already told me: 'If we had the euro, we would have been better off.'"

Execution increases EU-China tension

China has dismissed EU criticisms over the execution of a Chinese medical researcher and businessman accused of spying for Taiwan, reports the IHT.

The EU issued a statement condemning the execution of Wo Weihan, who was sentenced to death after being convicted for passing data on missile guidance systems to a group linked to Taiwanese intelligence agencies.

The EU said that the trial did not comply with international standards.

The execution has further increased the tension between Brussels and Beijing, just a week after the cancellation of a planned summit, Le Figaro reports.

Austria’s foreign minister Ursula Plassnik, cited by the paper, said the shooting of biochemist Wo Weihan – who has two daughters in Vienna – was a “premeditated insult” towards Europe on the part of Beijing.

Brussels blocks French bank plan

Le Figaro reports that French plans to give a €10.5bn support package to six banks has been blocked by Brussels on the grounds that it breaks competition laws.

The banks, none of which are in financial trouble, were offered the money to encourage them to lend more, thus kick-starting the French economy.

But competition commissioner Neelie Kroes is worried that this will give the French banks an unfair advantage over their European counterparts – and instead wants all banks, in trouble or not, to lend less money, not more, the paper notes.

It adds that Brussels is fighting a losing battle on this issue, with public opinion in favour of any measure to rejuvenate the economy, regardless of EU competition rules.

Latvia to call on EU for part of €5bn economic bailout

Latvia needs €5bn from the International Monetary Fund and EU to help solve the economic crisis, reports the Guardian.

"It seems to me this is a realistic estimate. About three billion (euros) for supporting the economy and about two billion could be linked directly to the budget deficit and more direct government expenses," Latvia's finance minister Atis Slakteris said on Monday, adding that this request would go first to the government and then to the IMF and EU.

EU chief regrets decision to cancel China summit

The European Commission president says he regrets China's decision to pull out of this week's summit with the EU over French president Nicolas Sarkozy's planned meeting with the Dalai Lama, reports the IHT

José Manuel Barroso says the Chinese are "ultra-sensitive" about the Dalai Lama, but that summits offer the right forum to discuss such matters.

EU throws a lifeline to carmakers

Britain's beleaguered car manufacturers will be thrown a €16bn lifeline this week, reports the Guardian

The European Investment Bank is set to sign off on the aid package for European carmakers in an attempt to prevent more job losses and the collapse of companies.