European shares were lower early on Monday, depressed by oils which sagged on lower crude prices and by a cautious mood ahead of the approval of Washington's economic stimulus package. By 0932 GMT, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top shares was down 0.3 percent at 823.78 points after gaining 2 percent on Friday. Top aides to President Barack Obama on Sunday urged Democratic and Republican lawmakers to set aside political differences and quickly approve a massive economic stimulus package this week. [ID:nN08458993] The Democratic-led Senate, with the help of a few Republicans, will vote on Monday to end debate on an $827 billion rescue package and clear the way for its passage on Tuesday. "This week is very important because you've got the (G7) nations meeting at the end of the week, you've got the Obama bill going through, and you've got the second TARP proposal coming out," said Justin Urquhart Stewart, director at Seven Investment Management. "This is the world's biggest casino throw we've ever seen," he said of the stimulus package. "There is no certainty in this market. We're tap dancing on thin ice." Energy stocks took the most points off the index as crude CLc1 fell 0.6 percent. Britain's BG Group (BG.L) lost 1.9 percent after it offered A$796 million ($538 million) for Australia's Pure Energy (PES.AX), trumping a bid by Arrow Energy (AOE.AX), in the latest deal in Australia's coal seam gas sector as firms seek to boost their gas reserves. [ID:nSYD42305] BP (BP.L), Royal Dutch Shell (RDSb.L) and Total (TOTF.PA) were down 1-1.9 percent. Across Europe, the FTSE 100 .FTSE index was down 0.8 percent, Germany's DAX .GDAXI was 0.7 percent lower and France's CAC 40 .FCHI was down 0.9 percent.

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