Brussels  - European Union representatives are to hold an emergency meeting on the Russian-Ukrainian gas row on Monday and could send an investigating team to the two countries within days, officials in Brussels confirmed Saturday.

The permanent ambassadors of the EU's 27 member states - their highest representatives in Brussels - are to hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday to discuss Russia's shut-off of gas to Ukraine, EU officials told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Brussels, Jan. 3 : A two-day conference held here last month on the cultural heritage of Kashmiris, has declared that there is a need to forge "a peaceful pathway through identifying and implementing a series of steps that will lead to a prosperous and cohesive future for all of the people of Kashmir, wherever they may reside."

In its eight-point declaration, the conference recognising that, irrespective of their location, all people of the Former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir share a unique and ancient heritage.

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 - 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.

Brussels - NATO and Russia are expected to resume direct talks at ambassadorial level in January, an alliance spokeswoman said Friday.

"The (NATO) secretary general is now looking at a date for an informal meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at ambassadors' level in mid-January," Carmen Romero told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Her comments came after an informal lunchtime meeting between NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's ambassador to NATO.

The meeting in Brussels was the first of its kind since NATO broke off formal ties with Russia over the August conflict in Georgia.