Balkans

Bulgarian GERB MP Backs ‘Tainted’ Judge before EC

The Chair of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Iskra Fidosova, has sent a letter to the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, informing him on the hearing of judge, Veneta Markovska. Ignoring strong criticism from the European Commission that the Parliament is covering up tipoffs against one of the …

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Bosnian Political Deal Draws Criticism from Judiciary

Foreign diplomats and the president of Bosnia’s highest judicial authority expressed their concern over the recent SDP-SNSD agreement which includes election of prosecutors.The president of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, HJPC, Milorad Novkovic, and representatives of the international community criticised the agreement between the leaders of the Bosnian Serb …

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Bosnia Foreign Minister Rushed to Hospital

Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija was hospitalised on Thursday after falling ill during a television show, apparently suffering from exhaustion.Lagumdzija suddenly broke off the interview in a Sarajevo TV studio on Thursday night, requesting a glass of water before standing up and disappearing from the view of the camera. The TV …

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Bosnia Strikes Back at Croatia Dairy Ban

Bosnia has announced stricter border checks on food imports from Croatia after Croatia stopped Bosnian dairy exports from entering the country.Bosnia’s trade and agriculture ministers on November 1 agreed reciprocal trade measures against Croatia, after Croatia recently slapped a ban on dairy exports from Bosnia, mostly coming from Republika Srpska. …

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Kosovo to Recognize Montenegrin Minority

Kosovo President pledges Montenegrins ethnic minority status, so opening the door for the opening of embassies, on hold since 2008.The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, has announced that Kosovo has agreed to recognize a Montenegrin ethnic minority as a constitutional category. “We will do it with new amandements to the …

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Montenegro Opposition Close to Deal in Niksic

Opposition coalition deal now likely in the town after difficult talks between the various parties.Representatives of two opposition forces, Positive Montenegro and the Democratic Front, were close to reaching an agreement on forming the local authority in Niksic, it was stated after Thursday’s meeting. The two political formations, along with …

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New Law on Funding Regulators Alarms Serbian Media

As the government drafts a new law, changing the way electronic communications operators are funded, journalists’ union warns it may jeopardize their independence.Serbian media unions have criticised a new proposed law on “Fees for the Use of Public Goods” that places the sources of funding for regulatory bodies in electronic …

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Romania Names New Anti-Corruption Chiefs

As the Justice Minister names new bosses for the country’s two main anti-corruption institutions, experts react cautiously, saying they will wait to see how they act.Romania’s Justice Minister, Mona Pivniceru, on Thursday announced nominations for the posts of Chief Prosecutor and head of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate, the DNA. Tiberiu …

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