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Belgium Hunts Gunman as Jewish Community on High Alert

Belgium's Jewish community was placed on high alert Sunday as police hunted down a gunman who shot dead three people at the Brussels Jewish Museum in an attack blamed on growing anti-Semitism.

An Israeli tourist couple and a French woman died from gunshots to the face and neck after a man apparently acting alone fired two successive rounds into the museum on Saturday afternoon before escaping minutes later on foot.

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Brussels Sets Priorities to Aid Serbia's EU Bid

Serbia should focus on economic reforms, the implementation of rule of law and further negotiations with breakaway Kosovo as it works toward becoming a member of the European Union, an EU official said Monday.

"We are fully committed to help Serbia with the necessary reforms," EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele told reporters in Belgrade after meeting Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic.

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Mini-Summit on C. Africa Crisis in Brussels on Wednesday

French President Francois Hollande is to co-chair a "mini-summit" of 15 European and 15 African nations in Brussels on Wednesday over the escalating crisis in the Central African Republic.

EU officials said Friday that the talks would be held ahead of a wider EU-Africa summit starting Wednesday afternoon that is to gather 90 nations from both continents and include 65 heads of state and government.

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British PM Rejects 'Inappropriate' Brussels Criticism

British Prime Minister David Cameron has warned Brussels it was "totally inappropriate" for unelected EU officials to criticize his plans to restrict migrants' rights to unemployment benefits.

Cameron complained to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso late Thursday at a summit in Lithuania about remarks made by EU Employment Commissioner Lazlo Andor.

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French Minister's Fury over 'Astonishing' EU Location Vote

A French minister denounced a text adopted by the European Parliament on Wednesday and seen by Paris as a step to moving the legislature permanently to Brussels as having "no legal weight".

Helene Conway-Mouret, a junior foreign minister, said it was "astonishing" the European Parliament "thought it useful to devote energy" to a vote on a text that backs changing the European Union treaty to allow the parliament itself, rather than member states, to decide on where it sits.

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Saniora Blames Arms for Lebanon's Slow Political Process

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora said Lebanon's political process was being slowed down by several obstacles including the use of arms by certain factions.

In remarks to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper published on Friday, Saniora said: “The slowness in the current political process in Lebanon goes back to (many) obstacles, the resort of some (parties) to weapons, and the attempt to use Lebanon as a forum to serve regional and international” policies.

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Angry Brussels Wants Answers from Israel over Aid

Brussels has demanded an explanation from Israel following the confiscation of humanitarian aid meant for Palestinians in the West Bank, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's spokesman said Saturday.

"The EU deplores the confiscation of humanitarian aid yesterday by Israeli security forces," Michael Mann said in a statement.

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Eichhorst: EU Cooperation with Future Cabinet to Remain even if Hizbullah in it

The Head of the EU delegation, Angelina Eichhorst, said on Tuesday that the latest decision to blacklist Hizbullah's military wing would not affect the cooperation with the new Lebanese government even if the Shiite party had representatives in it.

“The EU differentiates between Hizbullah's political and military wing,” Eichhorst told reporters at Bustros Palace following talks with caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.

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Serbia, Kosovo in Historic Deal to Normalize Ties

The premiers of Serbia and Kosovo on Friday initialed a historic deal to normalize ties in a move key to the future of the Western Balkans, said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

"These negotiations have been concluded," Ashton said. "The text has been initialed by both prime ministers."

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Thousands Rally against Austerity at EU Summit

Thousands of protesters rallied in Brussels on Thursday to vent their anger at austerity measures and press EU leaders gathered for a summit to focus on investing in jobs.

Organizers said 15,000 people took part in the rally in the Cinquantenaire park a short walk from European Union headquarters, where the bloc's 27 leaders began a two-day summit late Thursday.

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