Balkans

Serbia to start accession talks with EU in 2014

Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger hopes for soon ratification of Stabilization and Association Agreement between Serbia and EU and start of accession talks by 2014 the latest. In his interview for Belgrade daily “Blic” he said that it’s not real all Western Balkan countries to join EU by 2014.

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Commissioner Hammarberg to visit Kosovo

EU Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg kicks off his visit to Kosovo on Thursday. Commissioner Hammarberg will observe the situation of minorities in Kosovo, among which Serbs and Gorans. UN statistics said that last year a total of 2500 refugees returned to Kosovo. Among them were Roma people, who …

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EP passes resolutions on Macedonia, Croatia and Turkey

The European Parliament (EP) approved a resolution by Slovenian lawmaker Zoran Thaler on Wednesday (February 10th) which recommended the EU to set dates for start of membership talks with Macedonia. The draft was supported by 548 lawmakers, 45 voted against it and 35 abstained. The document recommended that Macedonia quickly …

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Pieter Feith says strategy for northern Kosovo will be sent to Belgrade

International Civilian Representative Pieter Feith said on Tuesday (February 9th) that the strategy for Serb-dominated northern Kosovo will be forwarded to Belgrade authorities, though not for consultation. Austrian news agency APA reports that Feith expects it will take time for Serbia to accept it the strategy, which has the EU’s …

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Positive Overall Verdict for Macedonia, Croatia

The European Parliament has given a positive overall verdict to Croatia and Macedonia for their efforts in the EU accession process last year. In resolutions debated and approved in Strasbourg on Wednesday, the European Parliament commended the work undertaken by the two countries, according to a parliament press release issued …

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Austrian FM to visit Serbia

Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger will arrive in Serbia on Wednesday for a one-day official visit. He will meet with Serbia’s Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, PM Mirko Cvetković and one of his deputies, Božidar Đelić. According to announcements, they will discuss the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) …

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EP to discuss Macedonia’s progress towards EU

European parliament will debate the progress that Croatia, Macedonia and Turkey have made on the road to joining the European Union. EP Committee on Foreign Affairs has adopted amendments on Macedonia’s draft-resolution, which urges EU to set a date for start of accession talks with Macedonia in March.

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Turkey, Albania scrap visa requirements

Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that Albania-Turkey agreement, lifting visa requirements for natioanals of the two countries, enters into effect on Wednesday. Albanian foreign ministry said scrapping the visa obligations started on January 27th and now the citizens of both counters are entitled to visa-free travel.

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