Balkans

Deadline Looms for Macedonia Local Elections

As the deadline nears for a decision on the announced opposition boycott of the local elections, EU politicians are heading to Skopje to kick start dialogue between opposition and government.As the deadline to submit lists of candidates for the March local elections looms on February 16, it will soon be …

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Suspected Criminal Denies Ties to Saric Clan

Rodoljub Radulovic, a member of suspected drug lord Darko Saric’s gang, has sent a letter denying all ties with the clan, describing the affair as a set-up.In a letter allegedly “sent to Belgrade friends”, Radulovic denies ties to the runaway suspected drug lord Darko Saric, and accuses another suspected criminal, …

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Strasbourg Orders Belgrade to Pay War Veterans

The European human rights court dismissed Belgrade’s appeal and confirmed that Serbia must pay overdue wages to veterans of the 1990s conflicts.Belgrade must now spend millions of euro on satisfying the ex-servicemen’s claims. The European rights court initially ruled in favour of the war veterans in July 2012 but Belgrade …

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Romania Denies Blame For Horsemeat Scandal

As EU ministers prepare to meet to discuss the horse meat scandal, Romania says two slaughterhouses are under investigation in connection to the row – but denies wrongdoing.Romania on Tuesday disclosed the names of two local companies that are under investigation for alleged involvement in the frozen food scandal spreading …

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UK No ‘Soft Touch’ for Bulgarians, Romanians

UK Immigration Minister says Britain will not be a “soft touch” for migrants from Bulgaria and Romania once the remaining curbs on working in Britain expire.Mark Harper told parliamentarians on Monday that the UK had no obligations to offer any more benefits to Bulgarians and Romanians seeking to come to …

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Albania Court to Weigh Historic Trash Referendum

The Constitutional Court on Tuesday will hear arguments about a referendum on waste imports, the first such grassroots initiative in Albania’s history.The request, which is spearheaded by a group of activists, environmentalists and intellectuals, has collected more than 64,000 signatures, calling for the annulment of a law that allows waste …

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Serbia PM May be Grilled on Drug Gang Ties

The Prosecutor for Organized Crime may summon Ivica Dacic for questioning as part of a wider probe into official links to a notorious drugs gang.The Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime has launched an investigation aimed at gathering all information on communications between officials and Rodoljub Radulovic, a member of suspected …

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EU Demands Bosnia Ethnic Rights Solution

During a week of meetings, EU officials urged Bosnian politicians to move forward towards ending electoral discrimination by allowing minorities to run for top positions.The EU’s delegation to Bosnia stepped up pressure for the implementation of a key human rights ruling that would allow minorities to run for top governing …

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Campaigners Sound Alarm over Attacks on Media

A south-east Europe press freedom group has raised concerns about political pressure and hate speech directed against media across the Balkans in recent months.The South East Europe Media Organisation, SEEMO, said that some politicians had threatened journalists while some media had flouted professional standards and endangered press colleagues. SEEMO said …

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