Enlargement
Serbia eyes Kosovo border review, opposed by Merkel
Serbia's political life is heating up in August as discussions about its relations with Kosovo have reached frantic speed, varying from a possible partition of its former province to exchange of territory and border changes.
Greek minister: Erdogan planned the arrest of our two soldiers
The arrest of two Greek soldiers at the border with Turkey was “pre-planned” and ordered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Greek defence minister Panos Kammenos has claimed.
Poll: Majority of Macedonians support new name deal with Greece
More than 40% of people in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) support the name deal reached between their government and Athens, according to a poll.
Russia expels two Greek diplomats amid growing tensions with Athens
The Russian government decided to expel two Greek diplomats from its territory on Monday (6 August) in response to Greece’s similar “hostile” move last month, according to the Kremlin.
Macedonia to hold referendum on name change on 30 September
Macedonia's parliament yesterday (30 July) set 30 September as the date for a referendum on changing the country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia, a high-stakes vote aimed at resolving a long-running row with Greece and clearing the path to join NATO and the EU.
Greece-Russia ties shaken, Turkey pulls the strings
Systematic efforts to derail the Macedonian name deal, combined with increased Ankara-Moscow cooperation, are the main reasons that tensions between Greece and Russia have escalated of late, diplomatic sources told EURACTIV.com.
Montenegro says ‘contributes to peace’ in response to Trump attack
Montenegro defended yesterday (19 July) its contribution to peace in response to US President Donald Trump, who said the tiny Balkan nation's "aggressive" people were capable of triggering "World War III".
EU Commission gives nod to Kosovo visa liberalisation
The European Commission said on Wednesday (17 July) that Kosovo has met the remaining benchmarks to win visa liberalisation with the EU that other Western Balkan countries already enjoy.
France to help Serbia’s accession to EU, reforms needed beforehand
Paris wants to help Serbia solve its most delicate issues en route to the EU, French President Emmanuel Macron has told his Serbian counterpart. But Macron also said that both Serbia and the EU have to be reformed before any further EU enlargement. EURACTIV.rs reports.
EU to deploy border guards in Macedonia to curb migrants
The European Union said it struck a deal on Wednesday (18 July) with Macedonia to deploy border guards to the non-EU Balkan state to help cope with any migrant surges. Serbia and Bosnia are expected to follow.
EU begins screening Macedonia, Albania for mid-2019 accession talks
The European Union began screening the readiness of Balkan neighbours Macedonia and Albania yesterday (17 July) to start negotiations by June next year on joining the EU.
Why die for Montenegro, Trump asks
Answering a journalistic question, President Donald Trump yesterday (17 July) appeared to put in doubt the United States' obligation to defend all NATO allies.
Zaev says Russian money used to instigate violence ahead of name deal referendum
Greek businessmen with close ties to Moscow have bribed citizens in Skopje to “commit acts of violence” ahead of the referendum on the name deal with Athens, Zoran Zaev, the prime minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), said on Monday (16 July).
US-Russia tensions escalate over Greece, Macedonia name deal
The Kremlin accused Washington on Friday (13 July) of being behind the Greek government’s decision to expel two Russian diplomats who had allegedly tried to derail a deal resolving Greece's name dispute with neighbouring Macedonia.
Macedonia’s roadmap to NATO accession explained
As expected, Macedonia received an official invitation to join the NATO alliance yesterday (11 July), a month after it reached an agreement with Athens on its new name.
Greece, Russia to expel diplomats in Macedonia tussle ahead of NATO summit
Russia and Greece were poised on Wednesday (11 July) to expel two of each other's diplomats in a rare dispute that Greek media said had been prompted by the issue of Macedonia, which expects this week to be formally invited to join the NATO alliance.
Architect of Romania’s EU bid says decade of membership was mishandled
Since Romania joined the EU in 2007, successive governments have failed to make the best of bloc membership but there is strong pressure for change in the country, the man who supervised Bucharest’s accession negotiations told EURACTIV.com.
Britain to double Western Balkans funding, security staff
Britain is to almost double the funding it provides to countries in the Western Balkans to 80 million pounds (€90 million) and ramp up its number of security staff in the region to try and tackle organised crime gangs.
Bosnia unwilling to be turned into EU migration ‘hotspot’
As EU states look to stem migrant flows to the continent, aspiring European Union member Bosnia is caught in the middle, with thousands of immigrants stuck in the impoverished Balkan country.
The Brief – EU membership McGuffin?
Croatia joined the EU five years ago to the month but what has bloc membership done for the Balkan nation over the last half-decade?
Balkans should build on momentum, focus on reforms – EU ambassador
The attitude that the EU owes something to the candidate countries in the Western Balkans is wrong, as well as the belief that concerns over the growing Russian influence in the region will be enough to bring someone "closer to the EU”, according to the EU Ambassador to Montenegro, Aivo Orav.
Kosovo turns to wind power to hit EU benchmarks
High on Kosovo's Kika mountain plateau workers are building the Balkan nation's first wind turbines, in an effort to eliminate the country's massive reliance on coal and end power outages.
Is two too little or just right for Serbia?
Earlier this week, Serbia opened two more chapters in its EU accession talks. It also received another clear message that progress on the rule of law and the normalisation of relations with Kosovo were crucial for the pace of its advance towards membership. EURACTIV.rs reports.