Brussels/Prague - NATO and the European Union on Wednesday welcomed reports that Russia would no longer be deploying missiles next to Poland and Lithuania in response to a shift in US policy on a planned missile-defence shield in the heart of Europe.

"The Russian announcement to deploy Iskander (short-range) missiles was unwelcome. If this proposal has been withdrawn, this would be a good step," said NATO spokeswoman Carmen Romero.

Brussels - The European Commission on Wednesday presented a detailed list of projects for improving energy security and spreading the use of the internet in a fresh bid to convince member states to spend 5 billion euros (6.6 billion dollars) in unused EU funds.

Officials in Brussels say the investments will also provide a much needed shot-in-the-arm to the bloc's economy, which is suffering from one of its worst recessions in decades.

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Brussels - The European Union is ready to help the United States close the infamous Guantanamo detention centre by taking in some of its inmates, but it is up to individual member states to decide how many they welcome, EU foreign ministers said on Monday.

"I think we need to look at this from a humanitarian perspective, a human rights perspective. If there are people who are not tried, are let free but they can't go back to their own countries I think we in Europe should take our responsibility," Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said in a meeting with EU counterparts.

Brussels - The European Union is re-introducing export subsidies for dairy products to help farmers cope with tumbling prices, despite protests from rival producers abroad.

Officials in Brussels, however, insisted Thursday that there would not be a return to the infamous butter mountains and milk lakes of the 1980s.

"We are not anticipating a return to the old days of butter mountains and milk lakes," said Michael Mann, spokesman for the EU's agriculture commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel.

"This is a temporary crisis situation on the market," Mann said.

Brussels - The European Union will Wednesday pile pressure on visiting Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni to re-open Gaza, so that humanitarian aid can reach Palestinians in need, said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

"It is very important that Gaza is opened. And that means opening the crossings, so that the help which the international community is willing to give can arrive to those in need," Solana said ahead of a dinner-time meeting in Brussels between Livni and EU foreign ministers.