Free Republic

The European Union’s executive branch recommended Sunday that the bloc suspend around 7.5 billion euros ($7.5 billion) in funding to Hungary over concerns about democratic backsliding and the possible mismanagement of EU money. EU Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn said that despite measures Hungary has proposed to address the deficiencies, the European Commission is recommending the suspension of funds “amounting to an estimated amount of 7.5 billion euros.” Hahn said that Hungary has until Nov. 19 to address the concerns. Any action to suspend the funds must be approved by EU's 27 member countries, and this requires a “qualified majority,” which...

Updated: 16:28, Friday July 07, 2006 An Italian judge has ruled that former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi should face trial over alleged fraud at his family's broadcaster Mediaset.Preliminary hearings began in October after a four-year investigation by Milan magistrates.They were looking into allegations of embezzlement, false accounting, tax fraud and money laundering in TV rights deals between 1994 and 1999. Mr Berlusconi - who fell from power after controversially losing this year's general election to centre-left candidate Romano Prodi - has denied any wrongdoing.More follows ...