European Union

With passive shareholders handed some of the blame for the financial crises, Emma Cusworth looks at the approaches to encourage them to take a more long-term approach.

Andrew Short talks to the EU commissioner

IRELAND - Almost €4bn ($6.8bn)of National Pension Reserve Fund (NPRF) assets invested in Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank last year has been written off, a government report confirms.

How a 'bigger and better' IORP directive could pan out

EUROPE - The UK government is understood to be prepared to shoot down proposals for a financial transaction tax being mooted by Germany and France.

EUROPE - The corporate defined contribution (DC) market in Europe is set to grow by 11.5% per year to 2014, research by Cerulli predicts.

The European Commission has failed to make its case for a revised IORP directive and planned changes should be abandoned, the National Association of Pension Funds says.

EUROPE - At an emergency summit in Brussels, EU leaders have finally settled on a debt relief plan for Greece.

IRELAND - Ratings agency Moody's has cut the Republic of Ireland's debt rating to junk status.

GREECE - The Greek parliament has narrowly voted to approve a drastic austerity package despite facing widespread opposition.