Brussels - The European Union's finance ministers were meeting in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss a 200-billion-euro (252-billion-dollar) recovery plan aimed at lifting their economies out of recession.

Divisions remain as to how much is needed and who should foot the bill, with Europe's largest economy - Germany - saying it is already doing its fair share.

While Britain and France both support large fiscal stimulus packages, Poland and the Netherlands have sided with the German camp in arguing that governments should not go on a spending spree.

Brussels, Dec. 2: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) officials have said that Pakistan must continue its military operations against militants in its tribal regions despite rising tensions with India following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

“We hope Pakistan’s efforts (against the insurgents) are not diminished as a result of what happened” in Mumbai, the Daily Times quoted NATO spokesman James Appathurai, as saying.

Appathurai made the comments even as NATO continues to express its concern over reports that the Pakistan Government might be thinking of redeployment of Pakistani troops in the east of the country, thus reducing Pakistani military action against militants located on that country’s border with Afghanistan.

Brussels, Dec 2 : EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has urged Pakistan to help Indian authorities investigate the terrorist attacks that killed 195 people in Mumbai.

Solana spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee following the devastating militant attacks in Mumbai, The News reports.

India on Monday formally accused “elements” in Pakistan of being behind the attacks.

In his conversation with Mukherjee, Solana reiterated his condolences to the Indian government, and “underlined the EU’s readiness to cooperate with India to combat terrorism,” his office said.

Brussels  - Representatives from the European Parliament, EU states and the European Commission late Monday reached a compromise agreement to limit carbon dioxide emitted by new cars.

Under the deal, plans to limit the gas blamed for global warming would be phased in over several years, with 65 per cent of cars to meet the goal of releasing 120 grams or less of the pollutant per kilometre by 2012. By 2013, 75 per cent of vehicles would need to meet the target, with 80 per cent compliance by 2014 and 100 per cent by 2015.

The plan was greeted by industry allies, but called a step backward by some environmental activists.

The long-term goal is to limit emissions to 95 grams per kilometre by 2020.

Brussels  - New rules allowing passengers to bring more duty- free perfumes and wines into the European Union came into force Monday.

The new rules also allow EU member states to limit the number of duty-free cigarettes that can be brought back from outside the bloc to 40. So far, about half of the EU's 27 member states have said they will stick to the current limit of 200 cigarettes.

Travellers' overall allowances for the import of duty-free goods has been raised from 175 euros (220 dollars) to 430 euros for those arriving by air or sea and to 300 euros for those entering the EU by land.

Brussels - World governments must give their citizens better education, more equality between sexes and more access to condoms if the spread of AIDS is to be halted, the European Union said Monday.

"There is an urgent need to accelerate the development and deployment of global prevention measures, including by greater access to masculine and feminine condoms," the 27-member bloc said in a statement to mark World AIDS day.

Governments should also put more effort into educating their populations, both revealing the danger of AIDS and countering the stigma which accompany it, the statement said.