Turkey has reacted strongly against a possible Greek Cypriot plan to use oil and gas exploration rights around the eastern Mediterranean island as collateral for an international bailout package it desperately needs to protect its economy from going bankrupt.

Macedonia, an EU candidacy country since 2005, has boosted its chance of accession after a peaceful election. The interior minister Gordan Jankuloska said, “We’ve probably had the best and cleanest elections so far.

Kosovo president Atifete Jahjaga said that 14 years after the conflict with Serbian forces, Kosovo “is proud and thankful to all NATO’s soldiers and commanders who contributed to the end of genocide against the people of the country”.