November, 2009

• 18 November

  Bulgaria can pay off only funds on “clear projects” under PHARE program

  The European Commission has unfrozen part of the suspended funds under the PHARE program for Bulgaria-EUR 3.5 mln. This is what was notes in a letter of the EU Enlargement Directorate to the Deputy Prime Minister and financial minister Simeon Dyankov received on Tuesday night.

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• 18 November

  Bulgaria fears new winter gas crisis

  Bulgaria, the EU country worst hit by gas delivery disruptions last January following a dispute between Russia and Ukraine over transit, warned about delays to infrastructure work designed to boost energy security. The interconnectors are part of a “recovery plan” launched by Commission President José Manuel Barroso before his re-election. …

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• 18 November

  Council of the EU to give its consent on liberalization of visa regime for Serbia

  The Vice President of the European Commission Jacques Barrot announced the Council of the European Union will give November 30 its consent on liberalization of visa regime for Serbia.

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• 18 November

  Macedonia urges EU to start entry talks

  Macedonian President George Ivanov appealed to the European Union to set a date for the start of negotiations with Skopje on joining the EU, almost four years after it was made a candidate, his office said Tuesday. “The start of the negotiations will be a clear positive signal for Macedonia, …

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• 18 November

  Brammertz Report to Be Favourbale for Serbia

  Media report that the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, Serge Brammertz, is satisfied with the level of Serbia’s cooperation with the Tribunal even though he has not stated that the country is fully cooperating. Brammertz wrote in his regular report to the UN …

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• 18 November

  Corruption in Balkans Hinders Investments

  The 2009 corruption perception index released by the Berlin-based watchdog Transparency International shows that most countries in the Balkans have not improved their position in the global anti-corruption index. With the exception of Montengro, there appears to have been little impact on the fight against corruption despite actions taken to …

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• 17 November

  Serbs Do Not Need Passports to Enter Kosovo

  Bakim Kelani, spokeperson for the Kosovo Police Service, KPS, has announced that Serbian and Montenegrin nationals do not need a passport to enter Kosovo. 

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• 17 November

  Sweden Calls for Name Settlement

  Macedonia and Greece must use the window of opportunity before the December EU council to strike a deal on their name spat that continues to block Skopje’s Euro-Atlantic integration, Swedish Foreign Minister said on Tuesday. “This has to be dealt with bilaterally” Carl Bildt, whose country is currently running the …

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• 17 November

  Russia to host massive military drill in 2010

  Russia will host a large-scale military drill next year. “Exercises will be held in the east of our country in 2010,” the Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukovas said. The drills, dubbed “Vostok 2010”, would be held from late June to early July, with involvement of servicemen from Siberia and Far East …

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• 17 November

  Kosovo Opposition Party Accuses of Fraud

  The opposition New Kosovo Alliance, AKR, is accusing the Alliance for Future of Kosovo, AAK, for manipulation in polling stations in the Gjakova municipality during Kosovo’s local election.

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