Balkans

The recent Europol report pinpointing Bulgaria as an entry point of drugs to Europe will delay the country’s entry in the Schengen Area, according to Bulgarian socialist MEP Kristian Vigenin.

Head of the European Commission (EC) mission to Serbia Ambassador Vincent Degert on Saturday urged Belgrade to shoulder its responsibilities as partner to the EU in solving the political standoff in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The European Commission (EC) is not planning on implementing any measures for the time being that would result in ending the liberalized visa regime for the Western Balkans, EC Spokesman Martin Grabiec said on Friday (May 6th). 

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced on Friday (May 6th) that Italian diplomat Fernando Gentilini will be the bloc’s special envoy to Kosovo for the next three months. The EU plans to boost its positions in Kosovo by having a single representative to the country instead of the current …

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and his Macedonian counterpart Gordana Jankulovska opened on Friday (May 6th) a new border crossing near Bosilegrad. Dacic stressed that the opening of the Goles-Golema Crcorija border crossing is the best evidence of the two countries’ efforts to secure a better life for their people.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s special representative to Cyprus, Lisa Buttenheim stressed on Friday (May 6th) the importance of the civil society and the public in achieving progress in ongoing efforts to reconcile the

Serbian and Hungarian presidents Boris Tadić and Pal Schmitt pointed out the importance of integrating South East Europe into the EU as they meet in Belgrade. They also affirmed Hungary’s continued support to Serbia’s EU integration efforts.

Bulgaria could get back 13.5 million euro of its installment to the European Union as part of an amount that is in excess of the bloc’s 2010 budget, socialist MEP Ivailo Kalfin said on May 5 2011.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert has stated that Serbia’s visa liberalization could be temporarily suspended due to false asylum seekers. He added that the discussion had only recently started.

Croatia’s Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor vowed on Wednesday (May 4th) continued co-operation with The Hague war crimes tribunal. She met in Zagreb with tribunal chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz, ahead of his report