Balkans

Government ministries have been taking decisions on a range of different issues unnoticed by the public gaze, a report published by Kosovo’s Institute for Advanced Studies, GAP, claims. This, the NGO states, has been primarily caused by lack of suitable mechanisms for monitoring government activities within the NGO community, little …

Starting from the first day in April, pensions in Romania are to increase by 3 per cent. The announcement came as good news for retired people, estimated at around 5.8 million people out of 21,5 million. The financial situation of retired people in Romania is often dire, as the majority …

An exhibition by Norman Gershman, “Word of Honor – Jews Saved during WWII in Albania” has opened in Ramallah. The exhibition consists of 70 black and white photographs and portraits of Albanian families who saved Jews from persecution during World War II. The selection has already been displayed as part …

Kosovo’s Prime Minister has guaranteed full transparency over donor funds directed to Kosovo. “I guarantee donors that every cent they spend will be accounted for,” Hashim Thaci told a press conference about the Donor Forum. The Donor Forum was organised by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Agency for European …

Macedonia’s Finance Ministry on Wednesday denied media reports that it was holding secret talks with the IMF over a new loan to deal with a growing current account deficit. Makfax news agency reported that a Finance Ministry official has responded to today’s edition of the newspaper Utrinski Vesnik, in which …

A 2.5-per-cent increase in the price of electric energy came into force in Kosovo on Wednesday. The increase is line with proposals of the Regulatory Energy Office. The decision was backed by the government but condemned by various consumer and rights organisations. 

Zbogar has announced that Slovenia would respond to Rehn`s proposal in time, but there are still no details. Slovenia has responded to the latest proposal of European Union expansion commissioner Olli Rehn on Monday, Slovene STA agency reports Tuesday, stating that the Slovene Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the …

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also said Croatia could still wrap up entry talks with the EU this year. The European Union may decide this year on offering visa-free travel to citizens of some Western Balkan countries and on opening membership talks with Macedonia, the EU’s enlargement chief said on Tuesday. …

PODGORICA, Montenegro – Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic’s coalition won an absolute majority in Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections, the Central Electoral Commission announced on Monday (March 30th). For a European Montenegro won 51.09% of the vote, translating to 48 of the 81 seats in parliament. The opposition Socialist People’s Party was …

WASHINGTON, United States – As required, all NATO member states sent the US State Department their ratified documents regarding Croatia and Albania’s entry into the Alliance, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer confirmed on Monday (March 30th). Portugal and Slovenia were the last two countries to comply. De Hoop Scheffer …