The EU turned 50 this weekend with celebrations in Berlin, not coincidentally the scene of Europe's most traumatic ruptures in the last century. Marking the occasion there seems a fitting way to thank the Germans for channelling their erstwhile imperial ambitions into the more worthy project of underwriting the economic development of the rest of the continent.

READY FOR TAKE-OFF

Aer Lingus looks set to make the most of the long-awaited open-skies agreement once it takes effect next year. The recently floated airline announced new US routes to Washington, San Francisco and Orlando would go on sale this week.

Chief executive Dermot Mannion thinks pre-clearance for US immigration at Irish airports will be a big advantage as the competition shakes out.

BANANA SPLIT

EU banana import rules cost the Fyffes a reported 40m in profits this year. Revenue was up but lower prices, higher shipping costs and import duties led to a disappointing 22.3m profit, down from 88.7m last year. However, the demerger with distributor Total Produce and property "rm Blackrock complicated like with like comparisons.

BLACK MARKS

Populist financial advisor, TV impresario and, now, grinning magazine personality Eddie Hobbs was found by the High Court to have acted responsibly as a director during the collapse of the Taylor group of finance companies. This must have come as some relief to Hobbs as he launched 'You and Your Money', a financial advice magazine.