The European Union will decide whether to accept Serbia’s application for candidate status based on its progress and efficiency in implementing the pre-membership agreement and trade deal, EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn said on Thursday. Rehn was in Belgrade to discuss the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, cooperation with the United …

Romania’s unemployment rate rose by half a percentage point in January to 4.9 percent compared to the previous month, the National Employment Agency, ANOFM, said on Thursday. In January 2008, the unemployment rate was 4.2 percent. The number of unemployed people in January stood at 444,907, while in January 2008 …

The trial of an Imam (local Islamic priest) on charges of sexually abusing an underage girl in a Bosnian village has stirred up tensions between local media organizations and the country’s influential Islamic Community. The family of the girl pressed charges against the Imam last year, accusing him of sexually …

BUCHAREST,  – Romania may need external funding in the second half of this year, when a large part of short-term foreign debt falls due, central bank chief economist Valentin Lazea said on Thursday. Many economists have said the European Union state may be next in line to seek financial aid …

BUCHAREST -Romania’s Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu vowed Thursday to continue judicial reforms after the European Union warned Romania to step up the fight against corruption following a recent drop-off in efforts. “Our priority is still to promote and back the adoption by parliament of the ( civil and penal) codes,” …

BRUSSELS -The European Commission warned Romania Thursday to step up the fight against corruption and boost justice reforms after the government’s efforts to meet European Union standards tapered off recently. “It is important that the Romanian authorities regain momentum on judicial reform and the fight against corruption so as to …

The Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin is in Pretoria Friday to meet his South African counterpart, the Darik radio reports. The main topics on Kalfin’s agenda are collaboration in the justice sector and extradition of criminals, intensifying business relations and securing support for the nomination of …

The Political Council of Bulgaria’s ruling three way coalition will discuss recent political issues at its session on Friday afternoon. The Leaders of the three ruling parties, BSP, NDSV and DPS will discuss the last Eu report on Bulgaria, anti-crisis measures and the preparations for the upcoming elections for both …

SOFIA –  Bulgaria has shown self-confidence to nominate a candidate for NATO Secretary General and it deserves this self-confidence, Solomon Passy, chairman of the parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs and MP from the National Movement for Stability and Progress /NMSP/, said in an interview with Bulgarian National Television.

SOFIA –  The Political Council of the governing three-party coalition is to hold a meeting on Friday, the press center of the Council of Ministers announced. The leaders of Bulgarian Socialist Party, National Movement for Stability and Progress and Movement for Rights and Freedoms Sergey Stanishev, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Ahmed …