Balkans

Due to ongoing political obstruction and rising ethno-nationalist tensions, western powers have opted to maintain their political and military presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but still lack a precise strategy for the country’s future, Anes Alic writes for ISN Security Watch. Following a recent meeting in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, …

I am sure that we will witness boom of Bulgarian investments in Albania in coming years. We work hard to make easier and more secured Bulgarian investors’ entering in Albania, Albanian Ambassador to Bulgaria N. Pr. Bujar Skendo said. According to him Bulgarian investors’ have keen interest in the Albanian …

I don’t believe that it will come to a veto situation, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who arrived unannounced late Thursday in Skopje, said. He believes that Gruevski-Papandreou meeting, set to be held today in the Greek part of Prespa Lake, will improve regional cooperation.

Depending on who you listen to, Roumyana Zheleva, Bulgaria’s nominee to the new European Commission is set either for a high post or humiliation when EC President Jose Barroso unveils his line-up. The names of all candidate commissioners have been confirmed officially, but negotiations and meetings about portfolios were continuing …

Serbia will apply for EU candidacy after the Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) has been unfrozen, says President Boris Tadić. Speaking in Belgrade on Thursday, he added that “time for candidacy is right when it is clear that we will get a positive answer from the EU”. “Our wish is to …

The European parliament (EP) members on Thursday in Strasbourg adopted a resolution on the EU’s enlargement strategy. The document, drafted by the EP Foreign Affairs Committee, asks the Council of the European Union to ratify without any further delay the Interim Trade Agreement with Serbia.

Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanović has meet with the UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, chief Lamberto Zannier. The two discussed the mission’s future role, and the need for it to act in a status-neutral manner, a statement from the ministry said this Thursday in Belgrade.

Croatian President Stjepan Mesić has accused Republic of Srpska (RS) Premier Milorad Dodik of “working to destabilize Bosnia-Herzegovina”. RS and the Muslim-Croat Federation are the two entities of the post-war Bosnia. Mesić was speaking in Berlin when he stated that “Europe must allow the high representative in Bosnia to eliminate …

The prime ministers of Macedonia and Greece are set to meet today in a fresh bid to resume dialogue ahead of EU Council meeting in December, when Macedonia expects to get a nod for start of EU membership talks. The two prime ministers are to meet this evening in the …

After Croatia’s EU entry, EU won’t accept any new members, EP rapporteur for Croatia Hannes Swoboda said. Croatia could wrap up its EU accession talks in mid-2010, but must continue with its judiciary reforms and fight against corruption, Swoboda pointed out. Swoboda urged EU authorities to work on the demands …