Balkans

As the EU ponders Romania’s desire to join the passport-free Schengen area, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta voices concern that instability in Bulgaria may affect its chances.“The European Commission’s decision next month on Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen area will surely be negatively influenced by the current instability in …

Vlado Buckovski has announced the formation of a new party that will seek to supplant the main opposition Social Democrats – if the latter do not change their style and leadership.Buckovski, who has been an outspoken member of the SDSM, says his new party will be formed in May, at …

A new wave of protest rallies is looming in Bulgaria following the collective resignation of the prime minister and the centre-right GERB government.Hundreds of pro- and anti-government protesters gathered in front of the parliament building in downtown Sofia on Wednesday evening. The anti-government protestors said that the collective resignation of …

Macedonia’s food safety agency is boosting checks on dairy products in the light of fears of contamination by the cancer-causing toxin M1.Macedonia said it was conducting more tests as the scandal about milk contaminated with M1 in Croatia and Serbia was causing widespread concern. “Macedonian milk is healthy and does …

After mass protests against high utility bills turned violent, the Bulgarian government has called it a day – PM saying he feels ‘shamed’ by the bloodshed.Prime Minister Boyko Borisov told parliament on Wednesday that he would hand in his resignation after the regular cabinet meeting later in the day. “Our …

After a dispute between regional and state inspections over whether milk is contaminated by the potentially dangerous aflatoxin, M1, Serbia is withdrawing all suspect milk from shelves.Serbia’s veterinary inspectorate has ordered all milk that some analysis shows is contaminated with the aflatoxin M1 to be pulled off the shelves. Dairy …

Around 100 ex-servicemen demonstrated in the Croatian city of Vukovar on Wednesday, attempting to stop the authorities putting up street signs in Cyrillic for the Serb minority.The war veterans took to the streets of Vukovar after Croatian media reported that the authorities planned to introduce the combined Latin and Cyrillic …

Kosovo and Serbia are expected to come closer to an understanding on Serbian-financed institutions in northern Kosovo in their talks in Brussels – but a think tank warns that the situation remains volatile.After a meeting on Tuesday, the Kosovo Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, and his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic, are …

The appointment of a former ethnic Albanian fighter as Macedonia’s defence chief has angered the party representing war veterans.The opposition Dignity party, which represents police and army veterans who fought Albanian guerrillas in the 2001 conflict, has protested over the appointment of Talat Xhaferi as new defence minister. Xhaferi, a …

After documents were leaked from Montenegro’s ruling party, revealing plans to hire political loyalists, the opposition is demanding action.The opposition daily newspaper Dan on Tuesday has published a letter which it calls proof of the growing politicisation of Montenegro’s public administration. In a letter sent to Dejan Zarubica, president of …