Balkans

The EU is for the first time sending border guards to help Greece stem an influx of migrants entering across the land border with Turkey. The Rapid Border Intervention Teams set up in 2007 “are activated today for the first time”, the European Commission said late on Sunday. The Commission …

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele believes there is a good chance EU foreign ministers will decide to forward Serbia’s EU membership application to the Commission when they meet on Monday (October 25th). Speaking on Friday in Bratislava, he expressed optimism

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and visiting Montenegrin counterpart Milo Djukanovic reaffirmed on Friday (October 22nd) friendly relations between their countries and voiced Skopje’s and Podgorica’s

Croatia’s Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said on Saturday (October 23rd) that Slovenian counterpart Borut Pahor has voiced his country’s support for Croatia’s efforts to wrap up EU accession talks. At a meeting in Lovran, Croatia, the two officials agreed to strengthen bilateral economic co-operation and to establish a working group …

Bosnian Serb Dragan Rodic has agreed to plead guilty to war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Bosniak and Croatian prisoners of war during the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict, local media reported on Saturday (October 23rd). Rodic is charged with taking part in establishing and maintaining a punishment and abuse …

Bosnia’s Croat and Serb leaders, Dragan Covic and Milorad Dodik, have agreed to to work together to create a Bosnian Croat entity. The move drew criticism from Muslims, who claimed it would lead to the “destruction of Bosnia.” Muslims, Croats and Serbs form the country’s three largest groups but it …

Macedonia should not hope for getting a NATO membership invitation at the upcoming Lisbon summit under the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. He says the position of the Alliance about Macedonia is clear – the country will join NATO when the …

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has agreed to begin the EU-brokered talks with Serbia before early elections February and despite the current political crisis in Pristina. “The (first) meeting between the two sides

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic is to pay an official visit to Macedonia today. He is scheduled to meet with his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Gruevski, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanovski. The Macedonian and Montenegrin prime ministers are to sign agreements for cooperation in technology, education and …

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is visiting traditional rival Greece for the second time in five months and will hold informal talks with the country’s leadership on ongoing disputes. Erdoğan is attending a Mediterranean conference on climate change and is due to meet later Friday with Greek Prime Minister George …