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Commission deplores Serb's Northern Kosovo referendum (News)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:20:11 +0100

A referendum organised in the Serbia-populated northern part of Kosovo on whether to recognise the government of the Albanian majority received a frosty reception from the European Commission today (14 February).

Kosovo and Serbia: A little goodwill could go a long way (Analysis)

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:40:40 +0100

A violent standoff in northern Kosovo risks halting its fragile dialogue with Serbia, and the latter's EU candidacy process, says the International Crisis Group.

France backpedals on Armenian genocide (News)

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:06:08 +0100

French lawmakers appealed to their country's highest court yesterday (31 January) to overturn a law that makes it illegal to deny that the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago was genocide.

Erdogan should resign over Armenia row (Analysis)

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:53:00 +0100

Erdogan should have followed a rational and strategic approach regarding the French bill on Armenian genocide. Instead, he acts like a small kid in the sandbox, writes Michael Kambeck from European Friends of Armenia.

Western powers to end Kosovo supervision (News)

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:43:18 +0100

Western powers overseeing Kosovo's independence said in a statement that they hoped to end their supervision of the former Serbian province by the end of the year, but that more should be done on rights and protections for the Serb minority.

Cyprus deal sought by mid-summer (News)

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:23:43 +0100

The United Nations held six hours of "intensive" talks yesterday (23 January) with the leaders of ethnically split Cyprus as it began a new attempt to break a deadlock in peace talks crucial to Turkey's bid to join the European Union. Cyprus will take up the rotating EU presidency on 1 July 2012.

Turkey threatens France with diplomatic war (News)

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:56:57 +0100

France approved yesterday (23 January) a bill making it illegal to deny that the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago was genocide, sparking angry retaliation from Turkey and threatening a "total rupture" of diplomatic ties.

Croats say resounding 'yes' to EU membership (News)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:57:04 +0100

Two-thirds of Croatians voted in favour of joining the European Union in a referendum held yesterday (22 January), and if the ratification of the accession treaty goes smoothly in EU nations, Croatia will become the 28^th Union member on 1 July 2013. EurActiv reports based on the coverage by Lider, its Croatian partner.

EU needs to push Turkey on press freedom (Analysis)

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:37:01 +0100

The EU should take a clear position and create more incentives regarding media freedom in Turkey as part of the country's accession negotiations, write Alison Bethel McKenzie and Steven M. Ellis of the International Press Institute in Vienna.

Tensions grow ahead of Croatia's EU referendum (News)

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:08:12 +0100

As Croatians prepared to vote in a referendum to join the European Union on Sunday (22 January), officials warned that a negative outcome would result in the collapse of the country's credit ratings. EurActiv reports based on the coverage by Lider, its Croatian partner.

Slovenia, Croatia agree arbiters for border dispute (News)

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:49:42 +0100

Croatia and Slovenia agreed yesterday (January 17) on the appointment of judges to arbitrate their border dispute, easing the way for Croatia's accession to the European Union.

Iceland opens labour market to Bulgarians, Romanians (News)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:33:31 +0100

Iceland has opened its doors to Bulgarian and Romanian workers, giving them the same rights of free movement and employment that other EU citizens have in the European Economic Area.

Turkish journalists denounce trials (News)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:27:04 +0100

Prominent Turkish journalists on trial for alleged links to an underground anti-government network called the conspiracy charges against them "political" in a case that has raised concerns over media freedom in Turkey.

Turkey pressures France to stop Armenian genocide bill (News)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:06:02 +0100

As the French Senate rushes to consider a bill that would penalise denial of the massacre of over 1 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire, Turkey is lobbying to stop the effort, warning of economic consequences.

Slovenia, Croatia to agree on border dispute arbiters (News)

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:58:02 +0100

Foreign ministers of Slovenia and Croatia are to meet on 10 January in Brussels to agree on the membership of an arbitration tribunal to solve a long-standing border dispute between the former Yugoslav republics, the EU executive confirmed yesterday (4 January).

Italy opens up to Romanian, Bulgarian workers (News)

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:21:08 +0100

Crisis-struck Italy is lifting labour market restrictions for Romanians and Bulgarians while nine other EU countries are maintaining their curbs, with several citing high unemployment.

Diplomat: 'Room for improvements' in German-Ukrainian ties (News)

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:03:52 +0100

Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Nataliya Zarudna, says her country is committed to European integration as a 'civilisational choice' and argues that German authorities should be more understanding of her nation's difficulties.

Ambassador: Ukraine committed to European integration (Interview)

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:16:56 +0100

In a conversation that included the Tymoshenko trial and the Euro 2012 Football Championship, Ambassador Nataliya Zarudna says Ukraine is committed to European integration as a 'civilisational choice' and argues that the German authorities should be more understanding of her country's difficulties.

Analyst: Bulgaria and Romania's EU accession 'was right' (News)

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:56:06 +0100

Bulgaria and Romania are struggling harder than the former communist countries of Central Europe to integrate into the European Union, but a leading French researcher says the decision to take them on board was the right one. Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007.

Bulgaria judges dispute 'unprofessional' appointments (News)

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:24:30 +0100

The Bulgarian Parliament approved the appointment of new members of the Inspectorate to the Supreme Judicial Council, ignoring the Union of Judges in Bulgaria which said the process was secretive and undermined judicial independence. Dnevnik, EurActiv's partner in Bulgaria, reports.