The head of the EU executive, Jose Manuel Barroso, has slammed France's determination to protect Europe's film and cultural industries in upcoming negotiations with the United States to agree a giant free trade pact. "Some say they belong to the left, but in fact they are culturally extremely reactionary," the president of the European Commission said in an interview with the International Herald Tribune published Monday.

By Mark John and Philip Blenkinsop PARIS/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - France threatened on Wednesday to block the start of free trade talks between the European Union and the United States if movies and digital media are not kept out of the negotiations. Two days before EU countries are supposed to give the go-ahead for negotiations, France said it would veto the talks unless the sector - that it sees as crucial to its cultural identity and under threat from Hollywood - is excluded.

By Ron Bousso LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union will impose a 4.7 percent duty on jet fuel imports from the Middle East starting next year, officials said on Wednesday, in a move that could significantly increase costs for the EU's embattled airlines. Last month, EU officials said jet fuel imports could dodge the new tariff thanks to a waiver known as airworthiness certificates or EASA Form 1 certificates.

The European Union on Wednesday readmitted Myanmar to its trade preference scheme, saying it wanted to support reform in the once pariah state through economic development. Myanmar's membership of the scheme was withdrawn in 1997 due to concerns over the use of forced labour under the then-military junta. But the EU said the International Labour Organisation had last year reported "necessary improvements" to labour practices in Myanmar, which was formerly known as Burma.