Silvio Berlusconi, Phone call to Pat Cox
Mr Berlusconi caused outrage across Europe with an outburst at the European Parliament last week when he suggested that Martin Schulz could go for the role of Nazi concentration camp guard in an Italian film.
In common with several other MEPs, Mr Shulz had been heckling Mr Berlusconi over his media ownership, and charges of corruption.
In a telephone conversation with Mr Cox, the Italian PM 'expressed his regret for having used certain expressions and comparisons which hurt the sensitivities of members of the European parliament.'
Mr Berlusconi was said to have added that his intentions may have been misunderstood and that in no way had he ever intended to offend.
Last week, Mr Berlusconi had to express regret to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder over the incident; he did so in milder terms than today's phone call, and later said he had not apologised.
Pat Cox's spokesman said as far as Mr Cox was concerned, the incident was now closed.
German anger over new slur
An Italian junior minister called Germans 'hyper-nationalistic blondes' at the weekend, and went on to say German tourists were arrogant invaders of Italian beaches.
The comments by Industry Ministry Undersecretary Stefano Stefani were described as 'a lone voice' by senior Ministers.
Nevertheless, Chancellor Schroeder threatened to cancel his annual holiday in Italy after Mr Stefani, who is responsible for tourism, refused to apologise.
Germany's Economy and Labour Minister, Wolfgang Clement, condemned Mr Stefani and said he should be removed for his 'reckless and outrageous ... absurdity and idiocy.
Mr Stefani wrote his comments in a letter last Friday in La Padania, the newspaper of the right-wing Northern League party which is a coalition partner in the government.
Germany's top-selling newspaper Bild said all Germans had been insulted. 'Has the undersecretary got spaghetti for brains?' it asked.
