Balkans

The Netherlands and France have asked for a monitoring mechanism for the visa-free regime for BiH and Albania. In a letter sent to the European Commission (EC), the two countries said the time has come to introduce such a mechanism and sanctions should be imposed in case of abuses. Citizens …

Greek President Karolos Papoulias and his Cyprus counterpart Demetris Christofias on Thursday expressed hope that calm will prevail in Egypt and Cairo’s stand over issues of national interest to Athens and Nicosia will not change.

Albania’s Socialist opposition is expected to hold simultaneous rallies in four Albanian cities on Friday, in an effort to put pressure on the government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and force early elections.

The Bundestag will ratify the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the EU on February 10th, Michael Stubgen, head of a German parliamentary delegation, said on

The foreign affairs committee of the lower chamber of parliament says the allegations of human organ trafficking in Kosovo should be investigated by an international commission, media reported on Wednesday (February 2nd). The panel discussed the report by Council of Europe rapporteur Dick Marty — who is Swiss — on …

Settlement of the Cyprus issue could be reached by the end of 2011, under the condition that leader of Turkish Cypriots Dervis Eroglu and Ankara accept a solution based on the formula of creating a federation of two communities in the island,  President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris said.

Finland’s minister of immigration and European affairs will pay a visit to the two countries next week. Astrid Thors will visit Bucharest on 6-7 February and Sofia on 7-8 February. In Bucharest, Thors will meet the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Baconschi, and Minister of Administration and Interior Traian …

Authorities announced on Tuesday (February 1st) that they have flown a pro-Kurdish politician wanted in Turkey to Cyprus, where his asylum request should be processed. Mustafa Sarikaya, former

Miroslav Lajcak, the EU’s special envoy mediating the political crisis in Albania, will lead another round of negotiations between the government and the opposition on Thursday (February 3rd). Lajcak will

The European Union has approved 92 million euros for several projects of infrastructure development and fight against corruption in Bosnia. The aid was approved from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) funds, aimed at providing financial assistance to states who aspire to join the European Union or are already candidates …