Balkans

An EU-mediated dialogue process scheduled to take place between representatives of Serbia and Kosovo in Brussels has been postponed after the Serbian delegation demanded a change in the discussion agenda. The seventh round of Belgrade-Pristina talks was due to take place today, covering the subjects of energy, telecommunications and Kosovo’s …

Rasim Ljajic says Serbia should adopt a two-pronged policy towards Kosovo: accepting the ‘reality’ of the loss of the south, while encouraging the Serb-run north to peacefully pursue its campaign for self-determination. In a break with Belgrade’s official line on Kosovo – which is that the whole of the ex-province …

Bosnia announced on Tuesday it will steps against its nationals who abuse the visa-free travel regime to EU countries, in force since late 2010, after warnings from Brussels. “I am certain that once we gather all the information we will adopt decisions that will be restrictive for all those who …

At least six Kosovo Serbs and four NATO troops were injured in clashes at a disputed border crossing on Tuesday, NATO officials and local authorities said. Eyewitnesses said troops from the NATO peacekeeping force KFOR fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse a crowd rallying against the removal of a …

Bucharest will withdraw its police officers from Kosovo by the end of this year following the completion of their tour of duty. Romania’s Supreme Council of National Defence, CSAT, has decided that the 178 police officers currently

By an unusually large majority, Serbia’s parliament has passed two bills that it hopes will help it secure EU candidate status in October. Serbian parliamentarians on Monday adopted bills on public property and restitution of property, the last bills deemed as “musts” if Serbia is to meet the terms for …

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov has denied that Putin will visit Belgrade in late October. “Prime Minister Putin is not coming to Belgrade in the end of October,” Peskov pointed out.

KFOR bust a barricade on the road to Jarinje border checkpoint on Tuesday morning, using tear gas. KFOR arrested people who were on the barricades. The barricades of soil and gravel are being removed, too. The NATO staff arrest everyone crossing the border using alternative routes.

It is too early for Bulgaria and Romania to join Schengen, the Finnish Ambassador to Romania, Ulla Marianna Vaisto, has declared. Finland wants to see more progress in the anti-corruption fight undergone by the two states. ” The Schengen file will be sorted out”, the Finnish diplomat assured.

The Greek prime minister said Tuesday that Athens would live up to the commitments that it has made to its international creditors as he urged Europe to pull together to take the steps needed to stem a potentially disastrous escalation in the debt crisis. Speaking later before the same group …