As Albania’s Central Electoral Commission, CEC, remains in political deadlock, observers warn that standards for the 2013 general election are already in jeopardy.“An independent and well functioning CEC is one of the main poll standards sought by international observers,” Premto Gogo, head of KRIIK Albania, an NGO that is part …

Lulzim Peci may be the first Kosovo diplomat to represent the country in Serbia, although the nature of his appointment is likely to be interpreted differently by the Serbian government.Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, has proposed Lulzim Peci as Kosovo’s ambassador to Serbia, Artan Behrami of the foreign ministry told …

The European Commission is referring Bulgaria to the EU Court of Justice over the way it assigned its digital broadcast spectrum.The European Commission on Thursday said the procedure followed by Bulgaria was based on disproportionately restrictive award conditions, which had led to the exclusion of potential candidates. This hampered competition …

The Office of the High Representative has failed to break the deadlock between Bosniaks and Croats over Mostar’s electoral system after calling a meeting of the main parties.A meeting in the ethnically divided southwestern city of Mostar on January 23 – called by the Office of the High Representative, OHR, …

The EU Enlargement Commissioner, Stefan Fuele, on Wednesday paid an unannounced visit to Macedonia, where he apparently urged leaders to resolve the ongoing political crisis and focus on the EU agenda.Commissioner Fuele met President Gjorge Ivanov, the Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski and the opposition Social Democrat leader, Branko Crvenkovski, but …

As the Serbian government mulls involving the Chinese in building a river channel from Belgrade to Thessaloniki, opposition parties and some experts have dubbed it unrealistic.Milan Bacevic, Serbia’s Urban Planning Minister, has travelled to China to start preliminary talks on building a channel running from Belgrade to Thessaloniki in northern …

United States helped France to flew troops and supplies into Mali, while Italy’s lawmakers voted to also provide assistance. The US mission started on Monday with two C-17 flights from southern France loaded with cargo and dropping it off in Mali. The flights are expected to continue for several days.

Muslims in southwest Serbia say schools in their region should not feel pressured to celebrate the day of St Sava, the patron saint of Serbian schoolchildren and a heroic figure to Serbs.Mustafa Fetic, head of the educational board of the Bosniak National Council, which represents the country’s Muslim minority, says …

Foreign Affairs Committee welcomes Montenegro’s progress, while urging it to do more to tackle media freedom issues, women’s rights and gender equality.The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament adopted a draft resolution on Montenegro on Tuesday, hailing what it called the country’s solid progress. “Montenegro has made solid progress …

Tatjana Babic, the new head of Serbia’s Anti-Corruption Agency, says there will be no untouchable people in the fight against graft. Serbia’s Anti-Corruption Agency has elected its former acting director, Tatjana Babic, as head of the regulatory body. “As Tatjana Babic has particular experience and a good knowledge of the …