Eastern & Central Europe

Latest news about eastern and central Europe and EU enlargement.

Bosnian court suspends law seen as violating trade pact, EU commitments — 04 July 2009, 11:38 CET

A Bosnian court said on Saturday it had temporarily suspended a recently adopted law on protection of domestic production seen as violating a regional trade pact and the Balkan country's commitments toward the EU.

Belarus won't 'copy' West: Lukashenko — 02 July 2009, 23:00 CET

Belarus's strongman President Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday that his country would not copy Western political systems despite efforts to forge closer ties with the Europe Union.

Montenegro gets 128m dollar EIB loan — 02 July 2009, 17:08 CET

Montenegro and the European Investment Bank signed an accord Thursday for a 91-million-euro (128-million-dollar) loan aimed at boosting the economic recovery of the Adriatic state.

German court ruling on Lisbon pact not a solution: Klaus — 02 July 2009, 17:11 CET

A decision by Germany's top court to make ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty conditional on a new law does not correct the pact's faults, eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus said on Thursday.

Commission recommends 2012 for correction of Latvia's excessive deficit - briefing — 02 July 2009, 13:15 CET

Latvia is a member of the European Union

EU tells Latvia correct deficit by 2012 — 02 July 2009, 23:14 CET

The European Commission called on Latvia on Thursday to cut its huge budget deficit to an EU limit by 2012 as it approved a desperately needed instalment of loans to the crisis-stricken country.

Malta becomes last EU state to report swine flu — 02 July 2009, 12:02 CET

Malta on Thursday became the last nation in the 27-country European Union to report cases of swine flu.

Russia, Georgia to reconvene Geneva talks in September — 02 July 2009, 00:00 CET

Russia and Georgia on Wednesday held a "constructive" round of security talks in Geneva and agreed to meet again on September 17, international mediators said.

Tensions over Russia-EU summit as Sweden takes helm — 02 July 2009, 00:02 CET

Sweden assumed the EU's rotating presidency Wednesday but already faced problems due to its strained ties with Russia, with Moscow opposing plans to hold a key summit in Stockholm, an official said.

Polish police nab largest-ever currency counterfeiting gang — 01 July 2009, 12:53 CET

Polish police have arrested three Poles suspected of running the country's largest-ever operation counterfeiting euros and Polish zloty banknotes, national police headquarters said Wednesday.

Russia, Georgia resume talks in Geneva — 01 July 2009, 12:49 CET

The sixth round of talks between Russia and Georgia since their war last August opened Wednesday in Geneva, with diplomats expected to raise issues linked to the end of the UN and OSCE missions in the region.

Polish shipyards sold to Qatari fund — 30 June 2009, 23:59 CET

Two historic Polish shipyards sold off last month went to Qatari fund Qinvest, Poland's Treasury Minister Aleksander Grad revealed on Tuesday after an official silence on the buyer.

Slovaks get rid of koruna coins after euro adoption — 30 June 2009, 23:54 CET

Slovaks, who have been using the euro for six months, got rid of all their old koruna coins on Tuesday -- their last opportunity to exchange the coins for euros in banks.

Austria's Strabag wins 1.6-bln-euro Polish highway contract — 30 June 2009, 23:51 CET

Austrian construction company Strabag is to build a stretch of the A2 east-west highway in Poland by 2012 for 1.5 billion euros, Strabag's consortium said on Tuesday.

Turkey urges EU to 'play the game' in membership talks — 30 June 2009, 18:00 CET

Turkey on Tuesday opened another chapter in its long and torturous quest to join the European Union, urging its future partners to drop political considerations and "play the game by its rules".

EU to help Turkey face up to illegal migration: Barrot — 30 June 2009, 18:02 CET

The European Commission will financially assist Turkey to stop a growing flow of illegal immigration crossing into the bloc through its territory, the EU's top justice official said on Tuesday.

Russia, Georgia to resume talks amid intensifying tension — 30 June 2009, 17:57 CET

Georgia and Russia are set to meet Wednesday in Geneva for the sixth time since last October in a bid to find an accord on security arrangements, amid growing tensions following their war last year.

Ukraine hopes for international loans watered down: EU official — 30 June 2009, 00:33 CET

Ukraine will have to settle for far less than the 4.2 billion dollars in loans from international lenders that Kiev is seeking to pay for Russian natural gas, an EU official said on Monday.

Albanian poll gets cautious praise — 29 June 2009, 23:52 CET

Albania won cautious praise from European election observers Monday following legislative polls seen as crucial to the Muslim-majority country's aspirations to join the European Union.

Czech prime minister rejects criticism of EU presidency — 29 June 2009, 23:51 CET

Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer insisted Monday that his country had made a success of its six month EU presidency despite the collapse of one government and its eurosceptic reputation during the term.

EU urges Albanian leaders to improve election standards — 29 June 2009, 23:48 CET

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn urged Albanian leaders Monday to work to bring election standards up to international norms, after observers reported some violations in weekend polls.

Russia backs declaration on Jewish wartime assets — 29 June 2009, 17:27 CET

Russia announced Monday it would join an international declaration on the return of Jewish assets seized during the Holocaust, but it insisted on abiding by post-war treaties limiting its scope.

Albanian poll gets cautious praise — 29 June 2009, 17:01 CET

Albania won cautious praise from European election monitors on Monday after weekend legislative polls seen as crucial to the Muslim-majority country's aspirations to join the European Union.

Czech farmers block roads in protest at milk price: farm leaders — 30 June 2009, 00:33 CET

Hundreds of Czech farmers blocked roads across the country Monday with tractors and trucks in protest at a fall in milk prices.

EU hosts Russian, Ukrainian officials for gas talks — 29 June 2009, 17:28 CET

The European Commission brought together on Monday Russian and Ukrainian officials along with international lending institutions to help Kiev pay for Russian gas and avert a new crisis.