Balkans

Italy strongly supports the European integration of the Western Balkans and backs thawing the Interim Trade Agreement between the EU and Serbia, says Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini. “Italy is decisively engaged in convincing its partners in the EU who do not support the unfreezing of the Interim Trade Agreement …

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov is pledging swift action to crack down on crime, The Sofia Echo reports. In a move designed to assuage investor and European Commision, EC, concerns about endemic organised crime in Bulgaria, Borisov has signaled his determination to rid the country of serious criminality – a …

Montenegro’s parliament approved on Tuesday a plan to send 40 soldiers to join NATO peacekeepers in northern Afghanistan, the country’s first ever participation in such a mission. “A squad and medical personnel will be sent at the start of the next year, while two officers who are due to join …

Kosovo Albanian Hysen Sherifi has been charged in the US alongside six others in connection with an international terror plot, which included a potential attack on Kosovo. The 24 year old, who is a US resident, was indicted in Raleigh, North Carolina, for attempting to engage in ‘violent jihad’, the …

Bulgaria’s Parliament will forego its summer recess, Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva said on July 28 2009. She was speaking on the eve of the National Assembly finalising the names of committee chairpersons and members. Overtime was needed to bring in legislation from Prime Minister Boiko Borissov’s new government, Bulgarian National Television …

SOFIA Prime Minister Boyko Borisov is to meet U.S. ambassador Nancy McEldowney on Wednesday, the press center of the Council of Ministers announced. Ambassador McEldowney is to present PM Borisov with a congratulation letter from U.S. President Barrack Obama on the occasion of his election as prime minister of Bulgaria.

SOFIA After consultations with the parliamentary groups, the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (CEDB) announced the distribution of the chairmen’s positions in the standing committees. 

SARAJEVO Acting High Representative Raffi Gregorian expressed his concern with a decision made last week by Bosnia’s Council of Ministers (CoM). The council decided not to extend the mandates of international judges and prosecutors. 

TIRANA, Albania The EU is postponing its evaluation of Albania’s application for candidate status due to the prolonged election process in the country, local media reported on Monday (July 27th). Voters went to the polls a month ago, but the final results are still pending, due to challenges raised by …

BRUSSELS, Belgium The Swedish presidency of the EU vowed on Monday (July 27th) to give new momentum to the integration of the Western Balkan countries this fall. Speaking to journalists in Brussels, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Swedish EU Affairs Minister Cecilia Malmstrom downplayed fears that accession of the …