European Union countries agreed on Tuesday to reforms giving the bloc the possibility of imposing higher duties on excessively cheap imports that would help shore up its defenses under a new trading relationship with China.

• December 13, 2016

European Union leaders will set out plans this week for negotiating Britain's exit, diplomats said, after national officials met late on Monday to prepare an EU summit statement.

• December 12, 2016

Italian energy company Eni will sell a 30 percent stake in its giant Egyptian offshore gas field Zohr to Russia's Rosneft for $1.575 billion, pressing ahead with asset sales to fund investments and offset weak oil prices.

• December 12, 2016

Britain will need a transitional trade agreement with the European Union, and the government should set out plans for it before beginning formal divorce talks with the bloc, members of parliament's upper house said on Tuesday.

• December 12, 2016

Turkey's ruling AK Party on Saturday submitted to parliament a package of constitutional reform proposals that would expand the president's powers, party officials said, in a move that could potentially see President Tayyip Erdogan rule until 2029.

• December 10, 2016

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced late on Thursday that his government would spend 617 million euros in one-off welfare benefits for low income pensioners after the country exceeded its 2016 primary surplus target.

• December 8, 2016

EU nations agreed on Wednesday to allow the European Commission to vet their oil and gas deals with third countries like Russia to guard against anti-competitive practices and supply disruptions

• December 7, 2016

Japan's trade minister on Wednesday dismissed concerns that boosting economic ties with Russia as part of a push for progress on a decades-old territorial row would mainly benefit Moscow, saying any business deals would be "win-win" for both.

• November 30, 2016