Businesses likely to have a harder time obtaining bank loans in eurozone 
Eurozone banks report higher demand for business and housing loans in the second quarter but say the debt crisis restricted their ability to provide credit. Households and consumers can expect looser credit in coming months but businesses are likely to face tighter standards.
EU approves import of six types of GM maize
The commission authorised the imports for food and animal feed, not cultivation. The decision fell to the EU executive branch after farm ministers deadlocked on the applications in June. Five of the varieties are new to the EU market.
EU population breaks 500 million mark
EU figures show 501.1 million citizens in 2010 compared with 409.7 in 2009. Immigration accounted for 60% of the increase whilst the birthrate decreased marginally with 5.4 million births in 2009.
