Category: Balkans
Balkans 22.05.20 | 13:47

Hashim Thaci says he dreams of adding three Serbian towns to Kosovo

Kosovan President Hashim Thaci, who is moving forward with a plan to exchange territories between Serbia and Kosovo, said that his dream is to add the towns of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvegja to Kosovo. The three majority ethnic Albanian towns are in Serbia, which is in turning pushing to have several...

Balkans 19.05.20 | 18:38

Commissioner Varhelyi says that Balkan countries will coordinate with the EU as they reopen after the corona epidemic

EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said that the Balkan countries will coordinate with the plan prepared by the European Union for gradual reopening of the economies after the coronavirus epidemic. Varhelyi participated in a video conference organized by Macedonia and Greece. We need to be prepared together...

Balkans 18.05.20 | 21:36

Turkey imposes 4-day curfew in 15 provinces amid virus

Turkey will impose a nationwide curfew during the Eid holiday to curb the spread of coronavirus, the country’s president said Monday, the Anadolu Agency reported. Turkey is successfully winning the battle against this outbreak, said Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the Cabinet meeting. He asked citizens...

Balkans 15.05.20 | 17:11

Orban and Vucic declare a win in the first stage of the coronavirus crisis, will begin working on economic reconstruction

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic declared a victory over the first stage of the coronavirus epidemic, during their meeting in Belgrad today. Orban condemned the European Union for its lack of a joint healthcare policy and response during the epidemic, and said...

Balkans 15.05.20 | 09:46

Slovenia declares end to coronavirus epidemic

The Slovenian government late on Thursday (14 May) called an official end to its coronavirus epidemic, becoming the first European country to do so, after authorities confirmed less than seven new coronavirus cases each day for the past two weeks, Euractiv reported. People now arriving in Slovenia from...

Balkans 14.05.20 | 18:42

Greece extends entry ban on third-country nationals until June 15

The Greek government has decided Thursday to extend the entry ban on third-country nationals, with the exception of EU/Schengen area citizens, until June 15, MIA reports from Athens. The restriction of all connections with Albania, Macedonia, Italy, Spain, issued by the Greek Ministries of Civil Protection,...

Balkans 12.05.20 | 12:43

Slovenia lifts flight ban

Slovenia on Tuesday gave permission for international passenger flights to begin again, 8 weeks after suspending them because of the coronavirus pandemic. Conservative Prime Minister Janes Jansha’s cabinet decided late Monday not to renew the suspension, the STA news agency reported. The measure applies...

Balkans 11.05.20 | 09:24

Croatia opens borders for EU and some foreign citizens, and Serbia opens kindergartens

Starting this morning, Croatia reopened its borders, allowing citizens of EU member states, their family members and foreigners with long term stay in Croatia to come to the country if they have a business or economic interest. Croatia was eager to reopen its borders, given how important tourism is to...

Balkans 07.05.20 | 22:25

Croatian defence minister resigns

Croatian Defence Minister Damir Krsticevic resigned on Thursday following the crash of a military trainer aircraft at Biljane Donje near the coastal city of Zadar in which two Air Force members were killed. It is our duty to be with the (victims’) families and we will give them the best possible help....

Balkans 06.05.20 | 15:20

Plenković: Decision to start EU talks with Macedonia is Croatian presidency’s political legacy

The European Union’s March decision to give Macedonia and Albania the green light to begin membership talks will be the political legacy of the Croatian presidency, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković told Brussels-based publication POLITICO. He added that the EU might not have decided to open...

Balkans 05.05.20 | 23:12

Red Heritage: Father and son from the Karakachanov family – agents of DS

The Bulgarian portal “Pod lupa” published an article entitled “Red Heritage: Father and son from the Karakachanov family – agents of DS”. The full text on the following link.

Balkans 05.05.20 | 17:04

Draft of Zagreb Declaration of EU-Western Balkans summit: EU promises more aid to region, but does not mention membership or enlargement

The summit in Zagreb, which was supposed to take place this week due to the coronavirus situation will be held alternatively on May 6 via a video conference, Euractiv. Jutarnji.Hr writes. Although the Croatian presidency’s ambition was for this summit to be a turning point in the EU enlargement...

Balkans 05.05.20 | 10:01

Greece will require tourists to get tested before coming to the country

Worried for the important tourism season, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that the country will open its borders on July 1, but with strict safety protocols in place. Greece will allow tourists to come in but on the condition they pass an anti-body test to make sure they’re...

Balkans 04.05.20 | 15:56

Kovatchev threatens: If commissions don’t start to work by June, Bulgaria will not allow start of negotiations with Macedonia

If the commissions on historical issues do not start to work by June and the authorities in Skopje continue to falsify history, Bulgaria will not give consent to start accession talks with North Macedonia, Andrey Kovatchev told Euroactiv Bulgaria. He said that the EC had a deadline by June to prepare...

Balkans 03.05.20 | 18:54

Zaharieva wants our country to recognize the history: Bulgaria will not give up on the blockade in EU

It’s in our joint interest Macedonia to recognize the history all the while we recognize their reality at the moment, said Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zakharieva. Bulgaria is championing a wise foreign policy and it won’t allow to be used in a pre-election campaign in the neighboring country,...

Balkans 24.04.20 | 20:37

Bosnia ended the evening curfew

Bosnia has abolished the evening curfew for the general population. The initial order was made on March 21, and under it citizens were banned from leaving their homes between 18h and 5h. Now the curfew will apply only to the elderly and the young. People over 65 will be allowed outside on Monday, Wednesday...

Balkans 23.04.20 | 14:25

Hungary re-opens three border crossings with Serbia for dual residents

Hungary and Serbia re-opened their border for residents and farmers. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Serbian Interior MInister Nebojsa Stefanovic ade the agreement to open three crossings that were closed due to the spread of the coronavirus. Countries in central Europe are slowly re-opening...

Balkans 22.04.20 | 14:20

Greece considers ”health passport” for summer 2020 visitors

Greece’s Minister of Tourism Harry Theocharis said that Greek authorities are mulling the introduction of a ”Health Passport” which will serve as proof that an individual is not suffering from the COVID-19 coronavirus, Greek Reporter reports. The Minister said that Greece will only have a three-month...

Balkans 17.04.20 | 19:18

Slovenia reopens stores of construction materials, technical goods and furniture

Stores, including car and bike shops, will start operating again in Slovenia from Monday 20 April. Mechanical and craft shops, as well as workshops, will be launched, reports STA. Stores of construction materials, technical goods and furniture will be reopened from Monday, as well as dry cleaning services...

Balkans 17.04.20 | 10:48

Bulgaria closes its capital Sofia for the weekend to slow the spread of the virus

Bulgarian authorities have ordered the capital city of Sofia closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The order is in place during the coming weekend, which is the Easter weekend according to the Julian calendar. The Government feared that many will use the four day weekend to get out of the...

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