Balkans

EU Rapporteur Urges Macedonian Accession Talks

The European Council this December should extend a start date for Macedonia’s EU membership talks, the European Parliament rapporteur on Macedonia Richard Howitt said.“This country has reached a point when negotiations should be opened,” Howitt said in Macedonia. “All of my efforts and energy are focused on the attempt at …

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Brussels Gloomy About Croatia’s Economic Recovery

Croatia’s economy will decline faster than was expected this year – and no recovery is in sight before 2014, the European Commission predicted on Wednesday.The Croatian economy could decline by about 1.9 per cent this year, the Commission said in it’s regular overwiew, correcting it’s April predictions that the fall …

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Romania Vows to Restore Ravaged Forests

After loggers ravaged many forests in Romania in recent years, the authorities are planning to revive areas stripped of their vegetation by planting millions of saplings.“Let’s reforest the country,” an initiative of the Environment Ministry, plans to plant around 26 million saplings in November alone, mainly in areas worst affected …

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Greek Lawmakers to Vote on New Austerity Measures

Greek lawmakers are preparing to vote Wednesday on new austerity measures required for another infusion of bailout funding from the European Union, as a public workers’ strike is in its second day. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is expected to narrowly win support for the austerity package, which includes $17 billion …

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Kosovo, Serbia PMs to Meet Again in Brussels

Hashim Thaci and Ivica Dacic are meeting for a second time in Brussels to discuss normalization of relations between the two estranged neighbours.The Kosovo and Serbian leaders are expected to hold a joint meeting with the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Brussels on Wednesday, Ashton’s office has confirmed. …

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Kacin Wants Missing Persons on Kosovo Talks Agenda

The European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia wants the issue of missing persons to be included in the upcoming Belgrade-Pristina talks.Jelko Kacin, the European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, urged the authorities in Kosovo and Serbia to address the pressing issue of more than 1,700 people still missing since the Kosovo war …

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Montenegro’s Opposition MPs Protest Against Anthem

Several MPs from Montenegro’s opposition alliance were absent from the chamber when the national anthem was sung at the parliament’s inaugural session, a gesture which may complicate inter-party relations.The new Montenegrin parliament was constituted on Tuesday. However, some of the 81 parliamentary seats still remained empty at the very start …

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Bosnia Revisits Macedonian President’s Death

Bosnia’s aviation authorities have promised to look at new evidence from Macedonia concerning the 2004 plane crash that killed President Trajkovski.Sotir Kostov, head of the Macedonian state commission for the investigation of aviation accidents, confirmed the fresh information, which is likely to revive speculation that Boris Trajkovski may have been …

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