Eurasia Press & News
SERBIA Besides the protocol on police cooperation, EULEX has drafted two more agreements on cooperation with Serbia in customs and justice, says a Priština daily. Quoting unnamed sources, daily Koha Ditore writes that the protocols on cooperation in the fields of customs and justice are due to be signed by …
Read More »Ulemek appeal continues
SERBIA The Supreme Court will continue to hear Milorad Ulemek and Zvezdan Jovanović’s appeal against their conviction for the murder of late PM Zoran Đinđić today. The public part of the trial began yesterday in a courtroom at the Belgrade District Prison with a statement by Judge Bata Cvetković (presiding) …
Read More »Netherlands Presses for Delay in Bulgaria, Romania Schengen Entry
NETHERLANDS The Dutch government has dealt another blow to the new EU member states Bulgaria and Romania, saying they are still doing too little to tackle corruption and organized crime, and their management of EU funds is still below par. The conclusions were announced on Wednesday in response to the …
Read More »Bulgaria could cut VAT rate – Finance Minister
BULGARIA Simeon Dyankov, Bulgaria’s Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, says that the flat income tax rate will stay unchanged, while Value-Added Tax (VAT) could be cut from the current 20 per cent to 18 per cent in 2010 and by a further two per cent by the end of …
Read More »Bulgaria says former cabinet ministers to be indicted ‘in next few days’
BULGARIA Former government ministers will be indicted in the next few days, Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said on September 3 2009. Tsvetanov declined to give names, saying that it was up to prosecutors to complete the indictments. Bulgarian news agency BTA reported Tsvetanov as telling …
Read More »Greek PM calls snap election, date yet to be announced
GREECE Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Wednesday evening announced the holding of a snap general election in a television speech to the nation. In prefacing announcement, Karamanlis underlined the need for immediate and significant reforms and measures to deal with the repercussions of the international economic crisis and what …
Read More »US Worried about Bosnian Political Rifts
BOSNIA The US is concerned about the current situation in Bosnia and its leaders’ commitment to securing EU and NATO membership, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Stuart E. Jones said. “The American government is concerned because we haven’t seen practical actions which reflect [Bosnian officials’] commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration,” …
Read More »Rehn Praises Macedonia’s Reform Progress
MACEDONIA Macedonia has a serious chance of receiving a recommended start date for EU accession talks this autumn if the positive progress of recent months continues, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn says. Rehn’s comments come only a month before the European Commission, EC, prepares its annual report on the country’s …
Read More »Albania’s New Coalition Takes Shape
ALBANIA Albania’s conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha and former Socialist premier Ilir Meta signed a coalition agreement on Wednesday, shaping the core of the cabinet that will govern the country for the next four years. The deal has been two months in the making and was announced after Berisha’s right-wing …
Read More »Commissioner Says EU Must Reward Serbia
SERBIA The EU Council of Ministers could soon unblock the Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn says. “The authorities in Serbia continue to work hard on achieving the necessary reforms. At the same time, Serbia is unilaterally applying the interim trade agreement too, despite the economic …
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