Enlargement
Weber: Turkish EU membership ‘makes no sense’
European Peoples’ Party group leader Manfred Weber told EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel that hard-hitting action must be taken against the Turkish government, while reiterating his call for EU membership talks to be scrapped.
Germany says EU aid to Turkey could be halted over arrests
Germany raised the possibility on Wednesday (19 July) of suspending European Union aid payments to Turkey after summoning Ankara's ambassador to Berlin to protest over the arrest of six human rights activists including a German citizen.
Estonian ambassador: Trump is right, Europe should pay for own defence
Estonian Ambassador to Poland Harri Tiido explained the priorities of his country’s EU Presidency and talked about the current challenges facing Europe, in an interview with EURACTIV.pl.
Macedonia says ‘FYROM’ name no better than ‘Klingon’
Macedonia rejected suggestions on Wednesday (18 July) it could end a row with Greece over its name by adopting an unwieldy acronym instead, saying it was as alien as the "Klingon" language in Star Trek.
Erdogan hits out at EU, promises to ‘rip heads’
A defiant President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday (16 July) stepped up his attack on the European Union, saying Turkey had to go its own way and vowing to bring back the death penalty if parliament passes it.
Greek FM: EU should be louder against Turkish ‘intervention rights’ in member states
EXCLUSIVE / In a wide-ranging interview, Greece's foreign minister on Sunday (16 July) outlined his country's position on the failed Cyprus reunification talks, scolding UN envoy Espen Barth Eide and rejecting "interventions rights" for Turkey in any future settlement. He also warned against expecting any breakthrough with FYROM.
Trans-Europe Express: Will the EU ever get the Western Balkans right?
The EU's fast-and-loose approach to the Western Balkans has never been more evident than in the last few years.
Turkish-EU relations need common sense
We are living in a world of vast differences and constant changes, yet there is often opportunity to be considered in our approaches in order to tackle the negatives and highlight the positives, writes Egemen Bagis.
Serbia to limit sale of agricultural land to foreigners
The Serbian Ministry of Agriculture is planning to unveil draft amendments and supplements to the Law on Agricultural Land with the aim of limiting the sale of such land to foreigners before 1 September, when the market is to be liberalised. EURACTIV.rs reports.
EU pledges funds for new Balkan railway, transport projects
This week's summit of the six Western Balkans EU hopefuls and EU leaders fell somewhat short of political expectations but produced concrete results in financing regional transport projects, most notably a railway link between the capitals of Macedonia and Bulgaria.
At Trieste trilateral, Italy laments migrant burden
In the margins of the Western Balkans summit in Trieste, Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni criticised fellow EU member states on Wednesday (12 July) for leaving his country to grapple with the migrant crisis, despite pledges made by France and Germany.
Turkey’s energy minister ‘to visit Israel for pipeline deal’
Turkey's Energy Minister Berat Albayrak is set to visit Israel by the end of this year to conclude an agreement for the building of a natural gas pipeline from the Jewish state to Turkey, the Israeli energy minister said on yesterday (12 July).
Balkans can help EU ‘feel attractive’ after Brexit, Macedonia says
Dented by Brexit, the European Union should seize on the hunger of Balkan nations for membership as an opportunity to "feel attractive", Macedonia’s foreign minister said on Wednesday (12 July).
EU enlargement: A six percent target for the Western Balkans
If the Western Balkans are to overcome almost three decades of economic stagnation and crisis, they will need to double their annual growth rates. This will need a fundamental rethink of the EU’s enlargement policy, argue Tobias Flessenkemper and Dušan Reljić.
Russian ‘aid centre’ in Serbia rebuffs spy fears
Showing off tents, lifeboats and other rescue equipment at the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Centre, co-director Viacheslav Vlasenko laughs at Western suspicions that his workplace is a front for a spy operation.
EU seeks to nudge Balkans into economic, transport cooperation
The European Union will seek to give a new boost to the six EU hopefuls in the Western Balkans at a summit this week, by steering their talks on a common regional market and signing off on a number of transport and energy projects meant to attract investment to the region and boost its economy.
Cyprus reunification talks collapse, UN chief ‘very sorry’
Talks to reunify the divided island of Cyprus collapsed in the early hours of Friday (7 July), UN Secretary General António Guterres said after a stormy final session.
Brnabic: If forced to choose, Serbia would pick EU over Russia
The Serbian government, opposition and Kremlin have all reacted to a statement by Prime Minister Ana Brnabić that Serbia, if forced to choose between closer ties with Russia and membership of the Union, would choose the EU. EURACTIV.rs reports.
MEPs call for freeze in Turkey accession talks
EU lawmakers called for a suspension of Turkey's membership talks with the European Union yesterday (5 July), saying President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's crackdown on opponents meant Ankara did not meet the bloc's democratic criteria.
Turkey rapporteur: ‘We are sending a very bad signal to the Balkans’
Turkey has lost interest in accession. Yet the EU continues to believe that it can use the process as leverage, Kati Piri told EURACTIV Slovakia.
EU urges Croatia to ‘implement’ Piran Bay ruling
The European Commission on Tuesday (4 July) asked Slovenia and Croatia to "implement" a ruling that gave Ljubljana key access to international waters off the Croatian coast, a decision rejected by Zagreb.
Turkey’s opposition leader launches ECHR appeal as he marches to Istanbul
Turkey's main opposition leader launched a European court appeal today (4 July) over an April vote that granted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sweeping powers, stepping up his challenge to the government as he leads a 425 kilometre (265 mile) protest march.
Croatia and Slovenia continue maritime dispute after arbitration ruling
Croatia has rejected an international tribunal's border ruling that gave neighbouring Slovenia access to international waters just off Croatia's coast, in a move that might create new obstacles for future EU enlargement in the Balkans.
Report: Local government debt a threat to Serbia’s public finances
If the Serbian government does not take the necessary steps, the debts of local governments, which currently reach 4% of GDP, will sink public finances, the Fiscal Council has warned. EURACTIV.rs reports.