Balkans

European integration is Macedonia’s priority, said Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanovski at a conference in Brussels. “Macedonia’s priority is the successful completion of the European integration process and gradual reaching of the EU’s average incomes,” said Veljanovski.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will visit Southeastern Europe between 7 and 9 April. He will be accompanies by European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, the EC press service announced.

Visiting President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias has today toured the Icharishahar, Inner City, historic core of Azerbaijan`s capital.

Bulgarian MEP Kristian Vigenin is the new European Parliament rapporteur on Macedonia. He replaced the Slovenian Zoran Taller, who was involved in a corruption scandal and resigned from the EP. Vigenin has had a constructive approach to Macedonia and has openly supported the EU enlargement process.

The main opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) will again boycott the vote for a new president if there is no general consensus among the parties on the candidate. Party leader Isa Mustafa made the announcement

Mladen Bosic was re-elected on Saturday (April 2nd) as leader of the opposition Serbian Democratic Party (SDS). Bosic’s nomination was backed by 250 delegates at the party’s congress. His rival, former Republika Srpska Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic, received 90 votes.

Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović and her Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Litvin met in Belgrade on Monday. They expressed hope that the two countries could establish a visa-free regime by the end of the year, said reports.

Kosovo’s interim president took office Monday in a ceremony boycotted by his predecessor as the government battled to avoid new elections. Former president Behgjet Pacolli failed to show up for the ceremony handing over power to parliamentary speaker Jakup Krasniqi, with his office saying he did not consider it necessary.

Croatia’s negotiations for EU accession are very unlikely to be completed by mid 2011, and will probably drag on into the fall. Contrary to the hopes of the Hungarian EU Presidency that it will be able to complete Croatia’s EU accession talks by June

Kosovo Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi said Sunday that the Kosovo assembly will probably choose a new president next week. “The opposition needs to be