CROATIA Slovenia is set to unblock Croatia’s EU accession talks, while Zagreb is set to withdraw the disputed documents that prejudice the border between the two states. The major breakthrough in the negotiations emerged Friday at a meeting of Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor and Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor …

KAVKAZ During a meeting on September 14, EU Foreign Ministers are expected to launch a debate on how to bring the bloc’s outreach to the South Caucasus up to date. The EU recognizes that the South Caucasus is gaining in importance in terms of regional stability, energy, and trade. All …

CYPRUS CYPRUS is the only European Union member-state which did not vote in favour of a UN resolution that recognised the right of return of all internally displaced persons and refugees and their descendants to their homes throughout Georgia, it emerged yesterday. Cyprus was among 78 countries which abstained from …

RUSIA Rising tensions between Russia and Georgia over shipping rights to a breakaway Georgian region have opened a potential new theater for conflict between the countries, a little more than a year after they went to war. Georgia’s coast guard has commandeered five merchant vessels from various countries this year …

BULGARIA As a matter of fact Bulgaria has had very bad image in Brussels. It depends on us whether we will change it. It is important people to have hope and to give us a chance to do it, said Prime Minister (PM) Boyko Borisov in an interview with Radio …

RUSSIA Attacks in the volatile North Caucasus are the latest deadly episode in a wave of violence to hit the region. In Dagestan, Russian security forces killed four suspected Islamist rebels in heavy fighting as insurgents continue to challenge Kremlin rule. In the neighbouring republic of Chechnya, where Russia fought …

BULGARIA Bulgarian Economy, Energy and Tourism Minister Traicho Traikov has announced that the construction of Belene Nuclear Power Plant will cost around EUR 10 billion (USD 14.6 billion), local media reported on Saturday. Traikov gave the example of Kozloduy nuclear power plant (NPP),stating that the same installations would be made …

MOLDOVA Liberal Democratic Party leader MP Vlad Filat, who has been authorized by the governing Alliance for European Integration to form a new Government as its would-be Premier, stated to Infotag this noon before going to parliament’s plenary sitting that the new Cabinet of Ministers may well be in place …

MOLDOVA The Parliament Friday constituted nine permanent commissions, by one fewer than in the previous legislature. Four of the commissions will be headed by Communist MPs, while the other five by members of the Alliance for European Integration. The legal commission for appointments and immunities will be headed by the …

MOLDOVA Parliament speaker Mihai Ghimpu is to serve as Moldova’s ad interim president, under a decision adopted Friday by the legislature, following prolonged debates. The decision is to be submitted to the Constitutional Court for validation. Communist MP Vladimir Turcan suggested the adoption of the decision should be postponed until …