Balkan News

Air passengers across the EU are now allowed to carry small quantities of liquids in their hand luggage, under new security rules that took effect on Monday (November 6th).

Rehn welcomes signals from Turkey about amending controversial law 07/11/2006 BRUSSELS, Belgium — EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on Monday (November 6th) welcomed a signal from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that his government is prepared to amend controversial Article 301 of the Penal Code, which has led to …

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday (November 2nd) that her country may insist Bulgaria and Romania take additional steps in the areas of justice and home affairs, if they fail to adequately address problems highlighted in the European Commission’s (EC) latest report on the two countries.

Annan sees possible delay in determining Kosovo’s status 05/11/2006 ZAGREB, Croatia — The determination of Kosovo’s future status may be delayed until sometime in 2007, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in an interview with Croatian daily Vjesnik, published on Saturday (November 4th). “Considering the referendum, and the fact that they …

EU cancels talks between Turkish, Cypriot ministers 03/11/2006 BRUSSELS, Belgium — The EU has halted plans for a meeting between European officials and the foreign ministers of Turkey and Cyprus. Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said arranging the two-day meeting had proved impossible. …

Voicing support for Turkey’s EU bid, the president of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) urged the country’s authorities on Thursday (October 26th) to step up their reform efforts.

The constitutional referendum Serbia holds this weekend will not influence the decision on Kosovo’s final status, the US envoy to the UN-led talks on determining the province’s future said in Pristina on Wednesday (October 25th). Frank Wisner reiterated that Washington remains engaged with Kosovo despite other global obligations.

Bulgaria‘s Kuneva to get EU’s consumer protection portfolio 27/10/2006 BRUSSELS, Belgium — Almost immediately after being selected to represent Bulgaria at the European Commission (EC), Bulgarian European Affairs Minister Meglena Kuneva was asked to assume the Commission’s new consumer protection portfolio. She met in Brussels on Thursday (October 26th) with …

Macedonia, Croatia to step up economic co-operation 25/10/2006 SKOPJE, Macedonia — President Branko Crvenkovski and his visiting Croatian counterpart, Stipe Mesic, vowed Tuesday (October 24th) to step up bilateral economic co-operation. The two heads of state signed a joint statement defining the basic principles of co-operation and pledging to contribute …

Appointing a new army chief of staff last month, Romanian President Traian Basescu pledged to keep the military far from politics. “Not for a single moment will I tolerate any political involvement by the army,” he said during the ceremony to invest Rear Admiral Gheorghe Marin as the new chief …