Nicholas Sarkozy, the talkative and not infrequently tactless French president, has once again been robustly, awkwardly blunt.

The Czech EU presidency has indicated it might invite representatives at the level of foreign minister or lower to meet the 27 EU leaders, in order to avoid giving an excessive air of legitimacy to governments that stand accused of human rights abuses.

The new information suggests that in December 2001, Poland designated 20 secret service agents to help in Washington's new war on terror and leased part of a military base in Stare Kiejkuty in the northwest of the country to the US.

The Obama administration backs the EU's newest policy towards its eastern neighbours, especially the bloc's bid to reduce its energy dependency on Russia, a senior US diplomat told EUobserver.

Issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Strasbourg / Kehl on 4 April 2009

At NATO's 60th anniversary summit meeting next month, the stage is set for celebrations and self-congratulations. But President Barack Obama may have to face some very uncomfortable questions about the alliance's future.

The President's economic policies closely resemble those of a "Manchurian Candidate" intent on ruining the economy by paralyzing business activity and discouraging innovation.

It said the United States would not need to proceed with the interceptor system, which has been vehemently opposed by Russia since it was proposed by the Bush administration, if Iran halted any efforts to build nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles.