Italians and Czechs resist arrest warrant

The week ahead

6 March: EU officials meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Brussels. On the agenda: Kosovo and the western Balkans, Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Middle East, Kenya and Chad, visas;

8 March: general and local elections, Malta;

9 March: general election, Spain;

10 March: EU foreign ministers meet, Brussels. On the agenda: the European Council, western Balkans, Afghanistan and Paki-stan, Georgia, Zimbabwe, trade;

10-13 March: Parliament plenary, Strasbourg. On the agenda: the European Institute of Technology, health check of the Common Agricultural Policy, European Council;

11 March: Weekly Commission meeting, Strasbourg. On the agenda: the future of EU agencies, relations with Africa, reducing administrative burdens, US visa-waivers, antitrust and merger cases;

11-12 March: EU justice and home affairs ministers meet informally, Brdo, Slovenia. On the agenda: management of the EU's external borders and relations with the US, including visas, data protection, combating terrorism and orga-nised crime, judicial co-operation.

Ministers fail to agree on biodiversity

EU environment ministers called for greater efforts to halt biodiversity loss this week, but could not agree on whether they should back the ambition with hard cash.

Summit to approve climate and energy package

EU leaders will next week call on the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament to conclude a deal on the European Commission's proposed climate and energy package during 2008.

E.ON offer could kick-start energy competition

An offer by Germany's largest energy company to sell off its transmission network has raised the European Commission's hopes of getting more competition on the EU's energy market.

MEPs oppose Reding's regulator plan

Chairwoman of Parliament's industry committee says MEPs are opposed to creation of a European telecoms market authority.