Enlargement
Czech FM: Visegrad countries will continue to promote EU enlargement
The Visegrad countries will need some time to close the ditches they have dug in recent years, Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček told EURACTIV.cz in an interview. He also voiced doubts about the need for a reform of EU membership negotiations, demanded by France, saying the process is already reversible at any stage.
The Brief – Is Mini Schengen all it’s cracked up to be?
Diplomats are still wondering what’s behind the initiative of Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, who last October decided to advance regional cooperation by forming a so-called “mini-Schengen” in the Western Balkans.
US envoy tells Serbia, Kosovo to make concessions, cooperate
President Donald Trump's special envoy for the negotiations between Belgrade and Priština told the two former Balkan foes on Friday to make major concessions that would enable them to work together and focus on the economy.
Greece and Turkey enter a cyberwar era
A number of cyberattacks took place this week between Athens and Ankara amid an ongoing escalating crisis between the two countries.
Serbia expects little from enlargement reform but hopes for more quality, speed
EU countries should soon reach a consensus on new enlargement methodology. Details remain unknown and it is not clear if the reform will also apply to Montenegro and Serbia, which are further along the accession path than the Western Balkans' other EU hopefuls.
Albanian PM sues Kosovo counterpart for defamation over land-swap claims
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has filed a lawsuit for defamation against Kosovo’s outgoing prime minister, who has repeatedly said Rama was involved in talks about dividing up Kosovo along ethnic lines, a court in Pristina said on Thursday (16 January).
MEP McAllister: The EU stands united behind Greece in crisis with Turkey
The European Union stands united behind Greece in its escalating dispute with Turkey, the Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister, told EURACTIV.com.
North Macedonia PM Zaev quits before April polls
North Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev resigned Friday (3 January) ahead of a vote in April called after the EU blocked the start of membership talks with Skopje, the key policy goal of his cabinet.
Croatia priorities at EU helm: Brexit, enlargement
Brexit and EU enlargement will be priorities during Croatia's six-month presidency of the bloc, Foreign Minister Goran Grlić-Radman said Wednesday (1 January).
Moscow fumes at Ankara over meddling in Libyan crisis
Russia has condemned Turkey’s intention to send troops to Libya to support Fayez al-Sarraj, prime minister of the UN-backed Government of National Accord of Libya against the head of the Libyan National Army, General Khalifa Haftar.
Serbia will not rush to join the EU until it is truly ready
As Serbia heads into an election year, the rhetoric of political parties rise. In an exclusive op-ed for EURACTIV.com, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić says a fair election requires all parties to participate and present their vision in order to give people a real choice.
EU-mediated dialogue fails to persuade Serbian opposition to drop boycott plans
The participants of an inter-party dialogue mediated by EU lawmakers have agreed that there are no conditions for a fair and free election in Serbia. EURACTIV Serbia reports.
State capture threatens Serbia’s EU integration process
For years, Serbia has been labelled as one of the frontrunners for EU accession in the Western Balkans, being one of two countries in the region currently negotiating membership. Unfortunately, there is little truth in this perception, write representatives of the Serbian opposition.
Athens says Turkey ‘blackmailed’ Libya to sign MoU by sending weapons
Turkey blackmailed Libya to agree to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) demarcating maritime zones in the region by sending weapons to the country, Greek media quote a high-ranking diplomat as saying.
Bosnia closes ‘jungle’ migrant camp
Bosnia on Wednesday (11 December) dismantled tents at the makeshift migrant camp known as the "jungle" for its harsh conditions, after transferring hundreds of people who were living at the site to Sarajevo.
Give us hope, give us membership talks, North Macedonia tells EU
The EU must deliver soon on its promise to open membership talks with North Macedonia, the country's foreign minister has told AFP, warning that messages of hope were ringing hollow after three rejections.
Coal pollution in the Western Balkans is a European problem
16 coal plants in the Western Balkans pollute as much as the entire EU fleet of 250 units, causing sickness and deaths across the continent. It’s high time to take action, write Viola von Cramon and Petros Kokkalis.
EU Commission chief vows tough stance on Turkey amid escalating row with Greece
Ursula Von Der Leynen, the new President of the European Commission, said that the EU executive fully backs Greece in its dangerously escalating row with Turkey over maritime zones.
Athens takes lead to ensure Western Balkans EU path
The Greek government is determined to take all necessary initiatives to ensure that the Western Balkan region’s EU ambition will become a reality soon, the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias has said.
Commissioner Várhelyi: Youth to become new ‘focal point’ in Eastern Partnership
In one of his first public appearances, Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for neighbourhood and enlargement, said on Thursday (4 December) reviving civil society and economy by reaching out to youth would be his priority in the context of Eastern Partnership.
Albania elects Western-trained prosecutor general as part of judicial reforms
Albania’s parliament elected Olsian Çela as prosecutor general on Thursday (5 December) as part of judicial reforms sought by the West that are intended to kick out corrupt judges. The European Union has told Albania the reforms must remain a...
Bosnia must overhaul judiciary, end political obstruction –report
Bosnia and Herzegovina must overhaul its complex and opaque justice system and do more to protect the rule of law if it wants to press its case to join the European Union, legal experts said in an EU-commissioned report on Thursday (5 December).
Bosnia should close ‘unacceptable’ migrant camp: Council of Europe
Bosnia should urgently close a temporary migrant camp or people will "start to die" during the winter period, a European human rights official warned Tuesday (3 December).
Harnessing the potential of French proposals for the benefit of Western Balkans
In recent days, the discourse on the Western Balkans’ EU accession has been dominated by discussion of the (in)famous French non-paper, finally explaining the thinking behind the changes in the enlargement methodology announced earlier by President Macron. Milena Lazarevic explains how the French proposal might work.