UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, urged Romanian authorities Tuesday (May 24th) to make sure key conditions are in place before they introduce four new criminal and civil laws this year. “A reform that truly aims to generate positive changes should foresee prior assessments, …

Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal reiterated on Wednesday that Serbia’s further progress in the EU integration process will depend on its co-operation with The Hague war crimes tribunal. Chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz will present his report to the UN Security Council next month. The Netherlands insists on Belgrade’s full co-operation, …

Head of Belgrade’s negotiating team Borislav Stefanović has said that no agreement will be signed with representatives of Priština’s negotiating team. He added that the agreements that the two parties could reach would be implemented by the governments and monitored by the European Union.

Decision of the Serbian President Boris Tadic not to take part in the summit of the Central and South Eastern European countries which will be held on May 27 and 28 in Warsaw is final and there will be compromise, Tadic office announced. The Serbian President has decided to boycott …

Macedonia’s Prime Minister and leader of VMRO-DPMNE Nikola Gruevski stated in Bitola that Macedonia has choose on the elections on June 5 between a pro-Macedonian and pro-Greek coalition. According to Gruevski smaller rightists parties – of Ljube Boskovski and Ljubco Georgievski worked for the interests of the opposition Social Democratic …

The European Commission will not impose visa regime for Macedonian citizens. That is what EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström stated. “EU is pleased with measures taken by the Macedonian government to reduce number of false refugees”, Cecilia Malmström stated.

Consultations on appointing a new chair of the Council of Ministers are to begin next week, but there is still no agreement between parties about the main posts in the state government. 

EU members remained divided over wrapping up accession talks with Croatia during a working dinner of the foreign ministers Monday (May 23rd). Hungary, Austria and

Minister of European Integration Vlora Citaku said on Monday (May 23rd) that the European Commission (EC) is applying double standards against Kosovo, referring to requirements Pristina has to meet even before visa liberalisation dialogue begins. The EC has imposed no such conditions on any other country in the region, Citaku …

The European Commission proposed on Monday a mechanism that would allow the EU to suspend the visa-free regime for certain states under “exceptional” circumstances. The Commission proposed the “safeguard clause”, which will go to EU ministers for discussion in June, in the wake of growing pressure on Macedonia and Serbia …