Balkans

ZAGREB, Croatia — The national committee in charge of EU talks approved on Thursday (March 19th) Croatia’s negotiating position on the judiciary and fundamental rights chapter of its EU acquis, committee chairwoman Vesna Pusic announced. She described this chapter as one of the most important in the accession talks.

ATHENS, Greece — A strong explosion shook the offices of a real estate state agency in Athens late on Thursday (March 19th). Preliminary investigations suggest that a gas leak may have caused the blast in the Ambelokipi district.

ZAGREB, Croatia — Prosecutors are investigating possible war crimes committed in Dubrovnik in 1991-1992 by 28 pilots with the former Yugoslav National Army (JNA), not just the three pilots who appeared in a Podgorica court in relation to the case, district prosecutors in Dubrovnik announced on Thursday (March 19th). The …

TIRANA, Albania — The chairwoman of the European Parliament’s (EP) delegation to Southeast Europe, Doris Pack, visited Tirana on Thursday (March 19th) to meet with senior officials.

BUCHAREST, Romania — Members of the National Liberal Party (PNL) are gathering on Friday (March 20th) for a two-day extraordinary congress to elect new leaders. Deputy PNL President Crin Antonescu prompted the move by challenging current party President Calin Popescu Tariceanu for failing to join the ruling coalition after the …

Madrid – Spain’s decision to withdraw its peacekeepers from Kosovo was Friday expected to be followed by an increase of Spanish troops in Afghanistan, press reports said. Spain could increase its contingent of nearly 800 soldiers in Afghanistan with up to 500 more, senior military sources were quoted by the …

PRISTINA, Kosovo — A group of cabinet ministries decided on Wednesday (March 18th) to start Kosovo’s decentralisation process. Serb-dominated municipalities will be established in Mitrovica — North, Gracanica, Ranillug, Partesh, Kllokot/Verboc and Novoberde. Six teams will work to secure resources, properties and administrative structures for each. After the next local …

ZAGREB, Croatia — The government decided at a session on Wednesday (March 18th) to submit the NATO treaty to parliament for ratification. Prime Minister Ivo Sanader noted that the majority of NATO members had ratified the document and the rest were expected to follow suit soon, clearing the way for …

BELGRADE, Serbia — Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic insisted on Wednesday (March 18th) that Serbia would receive a positive assessment from the EU Council of Ministers and would join the countries on the so-called White Schengen List before the end of the year.

SKOPJE, Macedonia — Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki says Macedonia has proposed different initiatives to Greece aimed at improving bilateral relations that have been strained for the past 18 years over the countries’ bitter name dispute.