Brussels - The European Union on Monday sent a fact-finding mission to Kiev in a bid to clarify the situation surrounding Russia's shut-off of gas supplies to Ukraine, EU officials confirmed.

The delegation of top officials from the Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, and the European Commission, the EU executive, is set to hold talks with Ukrainian political leaders and representatives of the gas industry, a presidency spokesman told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Brussels  - The Belgian parliament on Friday approved a new government made up of the same five political parties that formed the last ruling coalition, bringing at least a temporary end to the country's long-running political instability.

Lawmakers approved the formation of the government by a majority of 88 votes to 45, with no abstentions, parliamentary officials confirmed.

Brussels - The European Union's executive on Wednesday expressed "serious concern" at Azerbaijan's decision not to extend the broadcasting licences of foreign agencies such as the BBC.

"The decision by the Azerbaijani National TV and Radio Council not to renew the broadcasting licences of several foreign broadcasters, including the BBC, Radio Liberty and Voice of America is a matter of serious concern," EU Foreign-Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.

Brussels  - Belgium's King Albert II on Tuesday swore in a five-party government almost identical to the scandal-hit administration which fell on December 19, palace officials confirmed.

The move came just hours after the five parties which made up Belgium's last government agreed to re-form their alliance under a new premier, Dutch-speaking conservative Herman van Rompuy, 61.

Brussels - The five political parties which made up Belgium's last government agreed on Tuesday to re-form their administration under a new premier, 10 days after the last one fell.

After two days of talks, the leaders of the Dutch- and French- speaking conservatives and liberals and the French-speaking socialists agreed to form a government led by Dutch-speaking conservative Herman van Rompuy, 61, the former leader of parliament.

The new government is set to be sworn in later on Tuesday afternoon, sources at the palace of King Albert II confirmed to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Once sworn in, van Rompuy will be the third premier to head the ill-starred coalition this year.

Brussels - The European Union's executive on Tuesday approved a German plan to stave off recession by offering firms over 15 billion euros (21.3 billion dollars) in low-interest loans, officials confirmed.

The European Commission, which oversees the EU's strict rules on state aid and fair competition, decided that the plan was appropriate to "remedy a serious disturbance in the economy," a press release issued in Brussels said.

The German plan consists of a loan fund of up to 15 billion euros for companies which have difficulties in borrowing money due to the global financial squeeze.