Balkans

BRUSSELS, Belgium The Swedish presidency of the EU vowed on Monday (July 27th) to give new momentum to the integration of the Western Balkan countries this fall. Speaking to journalists in Brussels, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Swedish EU Affairs Minister Cecilia Malmstrom downplayed fears that accession of the …

BELGRADE, Serbia Rasim Ljajic, the head of Serbia’s national council for co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal, said on Monday (July 27th) that Serbia is co-operating closely with foreign intelligence services in the hunt for former Bosnian Serbs’ wartime commander Ratko Mladic, and that this co-operation will net results …

ZAGREB, Croatia Parliament’s foreign policy committee unanimously decided on Monday (July 27th) to propose that President Stipe Mesic remove Neven Jurica as head of the Croatian mission to the UN. Jurica requested he be relieved of his duties for health reasons. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration tightened …

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) High Representative Valentin Inzko has discussed problems in the functioning of the town of Mostar, with the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), local media reported on Monday (July 27th). Inzko is considering all available options, his spokesperson Frane Maroevic said.

BRUSSELS, Belgium EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn voiced optimism on Monday (July 27th) that Macedonia and Greece can still resolve their long-standing name dispute. He said both countries are working to move the issue forward. The stalemate has affected Macedonia’s bid to get an official start date for EU accession …

PRISTINA, Kosovo Many problems remain unaddressed in Kosovo 18 months after the country declared its independence, according to analysis by the German foundation Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Local media reports Tuesday (July 28th) quoted the assessment, which described Kosovo as an “unfinished” state with limited sovereignty and a de facto split …

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s alliance has won enough seats to form a government, though it fell one seat short of a majority, officials say.The result means Mr Berisha’s centre-right alliance will be forced to govern with a small left-wing party. Election officials announced final results from the 28 June …

STRASBOURG The Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe Eurimages is pleased to welcome a new member state, Albania, as of 1st September 2009, the Council of Europe says in a press release. As a result, co-production projects involving a co-producer from Albania can be submitted to Eurimages for examination …

Boyko Borissov, Bulgaria’s new prime minister, yesterday pledged to mend fences with the rest of the European Union by stepping up the fight against corruption. The European Commission last week criticised the outgoing government for failing to curb high-level corruption. It has been critical of the failure to bring to …

BELGRADE, Serbia Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said on Saturday (July 25th) he is optimistic that Serbia’s interim trade agreement with the EU — as part of the broader pre-membership agreement — would be unblocked by the beginning of 2010. In an interview with the newspaper Danas, Jeremic said talks on …