Last month EU farm ministers approved a programme to destroy all older non-BSE tested cattle to keep them out of the food chain, affecting up to two million animals.

CNN: Beef sales slump after EU BSE scare

While riots exploded on the streets of Athens, the Greek parliament approved yet another programme of austerity and reform.

ECONOMIST: Europe and the euro

Such an extension would be important to Russia, which has a major share of the contracts approved under the programme.

BBC: Q&A: Lifting sanctions on Iraq