Balkan News

The EU will find practical and pragmatic ways to prevent Kosovo from becoming the ‘black hole’ of Europe, says EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. Rehn welcomed the fact that “the Balkans is to be on the EU agenda, after the latter was filled with financial and economic problems”. Even though …

Deputies in the Serbian Parliament last night adopted a controversial Anti-discrimination law and will consider amendments to the same law today. Deputies adopted the law around midnight, but without discussing all proposed amendments, after the time for the debate had expired. A total of 446 amendments were submitted to the …

The European Union’s Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, on Wednesday night presented Croatia and Slovenia with a new compromise proposal to resolve the border dispute between the two countries. The proposal would enable the continuation of Croatia’s accession negotiations with the European Union, a statement from Rehn’s spokeswoman, Krisztina Nagy, said.

Kosovo’s Customs Service was regulated by the UN, until the end of 2008. Four hundred Russian policemen leave Kosovo after nine years of service under UNMIK. Russia has ended its “participation in the peaceful operation in Kosovo”, Russian UNMIK commander, Leonid Pogorelov, said today. 

Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz is due in Belgrade today to meet with officials responsible for Serbia’s cooperation with the court. President of the National Council for Hague Cooperation Rasim Ljajic cautioned against placing great expectations on what he said was a regular working visit. He said Brammertz would …

NATO parliamentarians express satisfaction that Croatia will soon become a member of NATO. Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader hosted a delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, headed by Assen Agov, president of the sub-committee for transatlantic relations and vice-president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO-PA). The members of the NATO-PA …

Representatives from the EU, the US, and Russia among others are meeting in Sarajevo, where they are expected to debate the international community’s future role in Bosnia and Herzegovina and confirm the country’s new top international envoy. The conference of the Peace Implementation Council started in the Bosnian capital on …

Public service unions are likely to file a lawsuit challenging a decision by the Croatian government to adopt a law that will reduce the base salary for 180,000 public service employees by six percent. Instead of cancelling collective contracts with employees, the cabinet has decided to introduce a law that …

Albania’s central bank warned the government on Wednesday against increasing budget expenditure, as this could put the macroeconomic stability of the country at risk. The central bank called for a tighter fiscal policy saying the government has no room to offer further fiscal stimulus. “This is the maximum that the …

The chief of the International Monetary Fund’s mission in Serbia Albert Jagger confirmed today at a press conference that the IMF will approve the loan arrangement with Serbia, but said the Serbian goverment must fulfill some conditions first. “These conditions are: rebalancing the budget, changes in tax regulations, and getting …