The EU filed a dispute with Russia over vehicle imports at the WTO, the first such challenge to Moscow since it joined the trade body almost a year ago.
European finance ministers on Thursday agreed a draft deal on new rules for bank rescues that will only allow bailouts by taxpayers in exceptional cases and shift the burden onto bank owners, creditors and large depositors.
EU leaders meet this week knowing they have to deliver growth and jobs, especially for the young, as years of debt crisis austerity and soaring dole queues test faith in the European project.
European Union finance ministers failed early Saturday to reach an agreement on how to close down failing banks before they can do too much damage to the wider economy.
China and the European Union began ministerial-level talks Friday that are expected to try to resolve a dispute over solar panels and other products, as tensions between the two risk escalating into a trade war.
China said it will deal "appropriately" with the European Union's decision to challenge it at the World Trade Organisation after Beijing slapped duties on some steel products, in the latest salvo in the row between the two sides.
The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday admitted to significant failures in the first Greek rescue that forced a second, larger bailout and left the country in a deep recession.
The European Union and Russia kick off a two-day summit on Monday overshadowed by rows over Brussels' decision to lift its arms embargo on the Syrian rebels and resolve to loosen Moscow's grip on EU natural gas supplies.
Greece on Friday received a vote of confidence from international creditors over progress in overhauling its stricken economy -- and a fresh injection of cash from the IMF.
The United States said Tuesday it supports the European Union's decision to ease an arms embargo on Syria as a means of showing support for rebels despite America's own refusal to provide weapons.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged Sunday to take steps to avoid a brewing trade war between China and the EU during a first visit by China's new premier to Germany, with both leaders calling for dialogue.
EU leaders, desperate to give growth a boost, target energy policy Wednesday amid concerns a US-led revolution in shale oil and gas development will reshape the global economy and leave Europe far behind.
Britain's Conservative Party will on Tuesday propose laws to force an in-out referendum on the country's membership of the European Union to be held by the end of 2017.
The European Union's poorest country Bulgaria faced fresh political uncertainty Monday after inconclusive elections held three months after the biggest demonstrations in years forced the government to resign.
The EU's top diplomat Catherine Ashton will meet chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in Istanbul on May 15 in a fresh effort to defuse international concern over Tehran's disputed nuclear drive.