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Brussels: Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze thanked the European Union for its support Tuesday and called for closer ties with Brussels.

Berlin - Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD), ailing in the polls, divided on policy and facing a leadership crisis, are set to name charismatic Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier as their candidate for the chancellorship in elections next year, according to a report Tuesday.

Belgrade: Serbian President Boris Tadic will lead a state delegation to Brussels on Wednesday. Statement from the president’s office said that the delegation will include Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Deputy Prime Minister for Integration in Europe Bozidar Delic and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic.

Vienna: It was vital for the future of the European Union to agree on a strong position on Russia’s actions in Georgia, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said Monday in Vienna, ahead of an EU emergency summit in Brussels this afternoon.

Paris: French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has said that sanctions against Russia are not on the agenda for Monday’s EU emergency summit in Brussels. Fillon instead called for dialogue with Moscow.

Berlin: The Federation of German Industries (BDI) said Monday it was opposed to sanctions being imposed on Russia over the conflict in Georgia and called for dialogue rather than confrontation.

Paris: As the European Union prepared to hold an emergency summit on the Caucasus crisis Monday, Georgia’s ambassador to France called for Russia to be given a “last chance” before any possible sanctions.

Moscow - Russia will meet its delivery obligations for gas and oil to Western Europe regardless of the conflict over Georgia, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Sunday.

Brussels - Despite their often-stormy political relationship, the European Union and Russia are so closely linked in trade that their economies largely depend on one another.

Ingolstadt, Germany - Audi has announced an upgrade of its luxury A6 class that will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show prior to the complete makeover scheduled for 2011.