Balkans

Greek Parliament to Investigate Ex-Ministster

Greek lawmakers will vote on Monday on whether to investigate a former minister’s possible connection to a shipping scandal, in a move that could threaten the government’s one-seat majority. A Greek shipowner has accused an aide of former Aegean Minister Aristotle Pavlides of seeking bribes in exchange for subsidised ferry …

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Albania, Croatia officially join NATO

STRASBOURG, France – Albania and Croatia officially became members of NATO at the Alliance’s summit in Strasbourg on Saturday (April 4th), after US President Barack Obama handed leaders of the two countries copies of the Washington Agreement that established the organisation. It was signed exactly 60 years ago, on April …

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Croatian police bust Balkan-based human trafficking gang

ZAGREB, Croatia – Police announced on Saturday (April 4th) that they have busted a group that trafficked people from Asia, the Middle East and the former Yugoslav republics to EU countries. The investigation was a joint one involving the police services of Slovenia, Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. At a …

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BiH to seek 1 billion euros from IMF

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) – Central Bank Governor Kemal Kozaric says that since BiH has a 200m-euro quota in the IMF, the country can request up to 1 billion euros an assistance. Speaking on Friday (April 3rd), he acknowledged that BiH will slip into recession this year, since the …

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Bulgaria PM, Top Diplomat Meet Obama, Hillary Clinton

US President Barack Obama is in Prague Sunday to meet the EU leaders. Obama and First Lady, Michelle, arrived in Prague at 6:15 pm Saturday evening, but did not have any formal meetings. The couple took the evening off to rest after the exhausting schedule in London, Kehl and Strasbourg. …

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EC Postpones Again Bulgaria’s ISPA Funds Release

The EC postponed until the end of May the eventual unblocking of the European ISPA program funds. The information was reported Sunday by the Bulgarian news agency BGNES citing the Bulgarian National television (BNT). According to the European Commission’s (EC) notification, Bulgaria only very recently presented to Brussels the requested …

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Bulgaria PM Wishes Obama Luck in Difficult Times

Bulgaria’s PM, Sergey Stanishev, had a brief exchange Sunday with the US President Barack Obama. Stanishev attended the meeting between the US President and the leaders of the European Union (EU) Member States in Prague. Stanishev said in an interview for Darik radio that he had the opportunity to speak …

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Ivanov Elected New Macedonian President

George Ivanov, the conservative candidate of the ruling right from centre VMRO DPMNE party won Sunday’s presidential elections the State Election Commission data show. This election”opens the European perspective for Macedonia” Ivanov said. He noted his priorities would be EU and NATO membership and solving the long standing name dispute …

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Macedonia Election Campaign Ends

The election campaign for the second round of joint presidential and mayoral elections in Macedonia, seen as crucial for the country’s democratic image, ends at midnight on Friday. Following the pre-election pause, Macedonia is set to elect its next president in a run-off election on Sunday. Voters will choose between …

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