Balkans

As of Monday, Croatia has applied the standard rather than the light visa regime toward tourists from non-EU countries. The country was required to align its visa system

Jordanian and Albanian foreign ministers on Tuesday stressed the urgency for a political solution to Syria, which preserves the unity of the country. At a meeting in Amman, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh

Macedonia has one week to present its progress in terms of the European integration, so as European Commissioner Stefan Fule to work out a positive report for the country, which will not bury down country’s hopes for being given a date to launch the EU accession talks.

Differences between Belgrade and Pristina are small but deep. This is what High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, said after the 12-hour negotiations between the two countries in Brussels.

The International Monetary Fund has agreed to provide approximately one billion euros to the 10-billion-euro rescue plan for cash-strapped Cyprus, managing director Christine Lagarde said on Wednesday.

The eighth round of the Kosovo dialogue ended in Brussels late on Tuesday with the two sides unable to reach an agreement. Serbian PM Ivica Dacic addressed reporters in the early hours

“Kosovo is ready to sign an agreement with Serbia, but it will not change its positions and will not accept anything, which is contrary to Kosovo’s constitution”, stated Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. “This is a historical day. A very decisive moment for Kosovo and the region”, Thaci stated.

Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev, is on an official visit to Hungary Tuesday and Wednesday, the presidential press office announced. In Budapest, Plevneliev will meet with Hungarian counterpart Janos Ader, the Speaker

UN mediator in the Greek-Macedonian name issue, Matthew Nimitz, has set a new round of name issue talks this month. 

The Slovenian parliament on Tuesday met to ratify the Croatian accession treaty to the EU. Top officials of both countries took part in the ceremonial session.