Balkans

Counting continues after Sunday’s parliamentary vote, seen as crucial to Albania’s EU integration hopes. Poll commissioners continued to count ballots on Monday after an election day marred by the murder of an opposition supporter and the wounding of a ruling Democratic Party candidate in a shootout in the northern town …

Serbia expects a decision this week to begin negotiations with the EU, and this will first be discussed in Luxembourg, then in Berlin and finally, in Brussels. The first in a series of key meetings will be held by EU

Catherine Ashton stated on Friday morning that the high-level dialogue between Belgrade and Priština has yielded concrete progress and agreement on many issues. This includes judiciary, police and local elections, the EU foreign policy chief saif, adding that she will inform the EU member states about this.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski met with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels. After the talks the two made statements for the media. EC President Barroso stressed on the fact that this was their first meeting and added that the two had an “open and frank discussion” and …

Catherine Ashton and Stefan Fule have sent a joint letter to EU members asking for a clear positive decision on the start of accession talks with Serbia. The EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, and the organization’s enlargement commissioner sent the letter on Friday.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen praised Bulgaria’s contributions to the Alliance and its commitment to transatlantic security. Rasmussen held talks on Thursday with Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski.

Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo Jakup Krasnigi hailed on Thursday the initiative of the State of Kuwait to appoint an ambassador to Kosovo.

Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina signed inter-state agreements in Brussels on Wednesday to enable unobstructed traffic of people and goods from July 1. Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić and the head of the Council of Ministers

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić met on Wednesday in Belgrade with Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev. The traditionally good and friendly relations between the two countries provide opportunities for strengthening

Slovenia is in favor of giving Serbia an EU talks start date as soon as possible, Serbian and Slovenian FMs Ivan Mrkić and Karl Erjavec have said. Slovenia is convinced Serbia deserves to get a date