Benelux (or "Bénélux") is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring monarchies, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The name is an acronym formed from the beginning of each country's name, and was created for the Benelux Customs Union, but is now used in a more generic way. Size: 74,102 sq km, Population: 27,1 million

The treaty establishing the Benelux Customs Union was signed in 1944 by the governments in exile of the three countries in London, and entered into force in 1947. It ceased to exist in 1960, when it was replaced by the Benelux Economic Union. It was preceded by the (still extant) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union, established in 1921.

Its founding contributed to the founding of the European Union (EU), though the immediate precursors to the EU were founded later (the ECSC in 1951 and the EEC in 1957). The three countries were also founding members of these organizations, together with West Germany, France, and Italy. Article 306 of the EC Treaty stipulates that The provisions of this Treaty shall not preclude the existence or completion of regional unions between Belgium and Luxembourg, or between Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, to the extent that the objectives of these regional unions are not attained by application of this Treaty. This article remained unaltered as Treaty_establishing_a_Constitution_for_Europe:_Part_IV_-_General_and_Final_Provisions#Article_IV-441:_Regional_unions of the European Constitution.

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BBC News | Europe | World Edition

Karadzic refuses war crimes pleas
Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:47:06 -0000
A plea of not guilty is entered on behalf of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic at the UN war crimes tribunal.
Crash plane 'was almost swapped'
Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:01:07 -0000
The airline involved in the Madrid plane crash had considered switching aircraft at the last minute, a minister says.
Georgia breaks ties with Russia
Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:10:28 -0000
Georgia is to cut diplomatic ties with Russia, days after Moscow recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent.

NYT > Europe

Georgia and Russia Cut Diplomatic Ties
Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:01:20 -0000
The Georgian government broke off diplomatic relations with Russia on Friday and Russia responded by doing the same.
Karadzic Declines to Plead at War Crimes Court
Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:02:14 -0000
The former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic refused Friday to enter pleas on the 11 charges he faces at the United Nations war crimes tribunal.
Russia to Ban Imports of Some U.S. Poultry
Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:47:45 -0000
Russia will ban imports from 19 producers in the United States and warned that an additional 29 suppliers face a possible ban on health and safety grounds.

L.A. Times - Europe

Italy mobsters block efforts to clean up toxic trash heaps
Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Residents in the Naples area have higher rates of cancer and other diseases. Activists who fight back have been threatened and witnesses killed. Raffaele del Giudice was a crusader. Squeezed into a sports jacket and a beat-up Fiat, he roamed the illegal trash dumps of southern Italy, covering his nose against the stench and exposing what he considers the ecological crime of the century.
Obama turns to Greek columns for support
Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The Athenian stadium backdrop for the Democratic candidate's acceptance speech is rife with symbolism. In 1960, after John F. Kennedy decided to move his convention acceptance speech from the brand-new Sports Arena to the larger Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum next door, he addressed a crowd of 80,000 from a stage that seen through 21st century eyes looks innocent and modest, if not clumsy. On the front of the lectern, just beneath the microphones, was a simple sign, its capital letters as skinny as Kennedy's tie, reading "Democratic National Convention." Below that, a large painted eagle spread its wings.
Robert Kendrick tests Novak Djokovic at U.S. Open
Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Former Pepperdine standout Kendrick looks strong in first set, but Serbia's Djokovic then shows why he is No. 3-ranked player. NEW YORK -- For the first 12 games, they played as equals.

UN News Centre - Europe

Tests confirm no radioactivity release from incident at UN laboratory
Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Independent experts have confirmed the initial findings of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that there was no release of radioactive material to the environment after an incident at one of its laboratories earlier this month.
Over 2,000 displaced from Georgia buffer zone register with UN agency
Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United Nations refugee agency says that some 2,300 people from villages in the buffer zone between the Georgian town of Gori and the breakaway region of South Ossetia have registered in Gori as internally displaced people.
Secretary-General convenes senior UN staff retreat in Italy
Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened a retreat today in Turin, Italy, for dozens of senior United Nations officials to discuss how the Organization can best tackle key global challenges, including climate change, the food crisis, human rights and staff safety.

Europe - International Herald Tribune

Georgia and Russia sever diplomatic ties
By ANDREW E. KRAMER Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:23:17 -0000
The move marked the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union that Russia had severed formal diplomatic ties with one of the 14 other autonomous republics that became independent states in 1991.
Putin suggests U.S. role in Georgia clash
By Clifford J. Levy Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:12:40 -0000
Russia's prime minister said he thought the U.S. might have helped "stir up" the conflict to benefit one of the presidential candidates.
Security group refuses to back Russia's actions
By David L. Stern Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:13:17 -0000
Members of a regional security group offered little support for Moscow's military action in Georgia.
Bush ready to scrap Russia nuclear deal
By PETER BAKER Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:23:17 -0000
The imminent collapse of a nuclear deal between the United States and Russia represents the most tangible casualty so far of deteriorating relations with Russia.
Karadzic refuses to enter pleas in war crimes case
By MARLISE SIMONS Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:23:17 -0000
Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader, appeared in court Friday in The Hague and refused to enter pleas to all 11 charges against him. He dismissed the tribunal as "a court of NATO."
The Olympic flame, for now, burns bright in Britain
By ALAN COWELL Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:23:17 -0000
The giddiness surrounding those acclaimed as Britain's Olympic heroes reflected a peculiarly British attitude - a reworking of the adage ascribed to Euripides that those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad.

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