BULGARIA'S entry into the European Union was delayed by worries over corruption, organised crime and slow judicial reform.

ECONOMIST: The European Union and Bulgaria

The south Caucasus remains so tense that the European Union has delayed its report into the origins of the Georgia war, which was to have been published at the end of July.

ECONOMIST: Russia's north Caucasus

Oxfam said Italy, Germany, Japan, Spain and the European Union have all either delayed or cancelled payments to the Global Fund.

BBC: HIV funding cut as science brings 'decisive moment'

Tadulala made his debut in rugby union with the Fiji national team against Romania last autumn which delayed his arrival at Gloucester.

BBC: Leeds Carnegie sign Semi Tadulala from Gloucester

It is in part a battle over wording that has so far delayed accord on this issue among the Christian Democrats and the Christian Social Union.

ECONOMIST: Who should be German, then?

Even careful Mario Monti, the European commissioner for the single market, wrote a front-page leader in Corriere della Sera explaining that, if Italy is to join Europe's monetary union, the slimming down of its welfare state cannot be delayed for ever.

ECONOMIST: Italy and Europe

Mr Hamilton hopes Turkey's aspiration to join the European Union could be used as leverage to get progress in the long-delayed case.

BBC: MP's talks over Leeds United fan deaths in Turkey

The passage was necessary to move the country closer to obtaining a delayed 12 billion-euro installment of the 110 billion-euro rescue plan from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

FORBES: Metals Higher After Greek Austerity Vote; European Debt Worries Persist