BUCHAREST Romania’s Chamber of Deputies approved with 103 votes in favor, none against and no abstention, the setting up of a committee to investigate how tourism minister Elena Udrea spent public money, the Romanian Mediafax informs. The committee will be made up of deputies of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), …

Bulgaria’s Parliament will forego its summer recess, Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva said on July 28 2009. She was speaking on the eve of the National Assembly finalising the names of committee chairpersons and members. Overtime was needed to bring in legislation from Prime Minister Boiko Borissov’s new government, Bulgarian National Television …

SOFIA Prime Minister Boyko Borisov is to meet U.S. ambassador Nancy McEldowney on Wednesday, the press center of the Council of Ministers announced. Ambassador McEldowney is to present PM Borisov with a congratulation letter from U.S. President Barrack Obama on the occasion of his election as prime minister of Bulgaria.

SOFIA After consultations with the parliamentary groups, the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (CEDB) announced the distribution of the chairmen’s positions in the standing committees. 

SARAJEVO Acting High Representative Raffi Gregorian expressed his concern with a decision made last week by Bosnia’s Council of Ministers (CoM). The council decided not to extend the mandates of international judges and prosecutors. 

BRUSSELS Greek FM Dora Bakoyannis has informed Brussels about Turkey’s “provocative policy” of violating Greek airspace in the past weeks. The comments came as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday.

TIRANA, Albania The EU is postponing its evaluation of Albania’s application for candidate status due to the prolonged election process in the country, local media reported on Monday (July 27th). Voters went to the polls a month ago, but the final results are still pending, due to challenges raised by …

BRUSSELS, Belgium The Swedish presidency of the EU vowed on Monday (July 27th) to give new momentum to the integration of the Western Balkan countries this fall. Speaking to journalists in Brussels, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Swedish EU Affairs Minister Cecilia Malmstrom downplayed fears that accession of the …

BELGRADE, Serbia Rasim Ljajic, the head of Serbia’s national council for co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal, said on Monday (July 27th) that Serbia is co-operating closely with foreign intelligence services in the hunt for former Bosnian Serbs’ wartime commander Ratko Mladic, and that this co-operation will net results …

BUCHAREST, Romania Parliament decided late on Monday (July 27th) to strip former Youth and Sports Minister Monica Iacob Ridzi of her immunity from prosecution. The vote by the Chamber of Deputies clears the way for the launch of a criminal investigation against Ridzi, who is suspected of embezzling public funds. …