The FINANCIAL -- Italy's former leader Silvio Berlusconi gave a strong hint Thursday that he might not run in next year's election, telling a Belgian television station he had "so much to do" outside politics.

The FINANCIAL -- European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday said he told his "old friend" Silvio Berlusoni, who may run again for election, that he must be mindful above all else of Italy's stability.

The FINANCIAL -- EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday welcomed the naming of Mali's new premier Diango Cissoko as a man of consensus, while warning the Malian military against further meddling.

The FINANCIAL -- Romania's new parliament is preparing to welcome more than 100 extra deputies following weekend elections, an increase that is raising eyebrows in one of the poorest countries in the European Union.

The FINANCIAL -- Bulgaria said Tuesday it will block Macedonia's bid to set a starting date for EU accession talks later this week, after earlier lashing out at what it sees as Skopje's nationalistic rhetoric.