Balkans

Skopje expects EC report to be positive

Macedonia expects a positive progress report from the European Commission (EC), said parliament chairperson Trajko Veljanovski. “I am convinced that Macedonia will be given a date for start of the accession talks,” he remarked. According to Veljanovski, the region needs a positive impulse and it will come with sitting a …

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US urges Bosnian leaders to show democratic responsibility and form a new government

The U.S. State Department says it is “disappointing” that Bosnia-Herzegovina is starting its second year with no government. Last year’s election for a central parliament and three members of the federal presidency ended in a deadlock, with no

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EU ministers debate on false asylum seekers from the Western Balkans

EU ministers on Wednesday in Brussels are to count the latest figures on asylum claims from the Western Balkans, and decide how to curb a trend that has accelerated since visas were scrapped. EU ministers are to assess whether the number of Balkan asylum-seekers is rising or declining, and decide …

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EU will provide €96 million assistance for Bosnia

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele has confirmed that €96 million of funding from a special Balkans assistance package will be allocated to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Previously, Fuele had suspended the allocation after political infighting broke out between leaders in Bosnia’s two semi-autonomous entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, FBiH, …

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Croatia’s EU entry offers new hope for western Balkan region, says Polish FM

Croatia’s accession to the European Union will offer a new hope for the entire western Balkan region, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said after meeting his Croatian counterpart Gordan Jandrokovic on Monday. “The accession treaty will be signed in December, ahead of Christmas,” said Sikorski, whose

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EP rapporteur for Serbia says that Kosovo issue should be resolved first

European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia, Jelko Kacin, said on Monday that along with EU candidate status, Serbia should also get a date for the beginning of negotiations. He pointed out, however, that in order to make progress in the Euro-integration process, the country needed to resolve the issue of Kosovo.

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Kosovo issue to be discussed at NATO summit

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the situation in northern Kosovo and KFOR’s role will be one of the key topics of the NATO defence ministers’ meeting this week. The summit will be held in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

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