Eastern & Central Europe

Latest news about eastern and central Europe and EU enlargement.

EU warns Latvia about non-resident banking — 16 January 2013, 22:46 CET

The European Commission warned eurozone aspirant Latvia on Wednesday to guard against growing banking sector imbalances and to closely monitor the identity of non-resident account holders.

Serbia president rules out UN seat for Kosovo — 16 January 2013, 19:48 CET

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on Wednesday rejected any possibility of Serbia agreeing to breakaway Kosovo's bid to join the United Nations.

Serbia hints willing to talk about UN seat for Kosovo — 16 January 2013, 11:21 CET

Serbia, which fiercly opposes independence for Kosovo, hinted for the first time on Tuesday that it may give up its opposition to the breakaway territory's bid to join the United Nations.

Raunchy Bulgarian pop-folk genre gets EU aid — 15 January 2013, 22:01 CET

Bulgaria's top promoter of the region's raunchy pop-folk music genre known as "Chalga" is set to receive some one million euros in EU funding, it emerged Tuesday, sparking an outcry among parts of the cultural establishment.

IMF, Romania start key talks on reforms, draft budget — 15 January 2013, 16:50 CET

IMF and EU experts opened talks with Romanian officials on Tuesday on the 2013 draft budget and progress on reforms, seen as crucial for consolidating investors' confidence.

Serbia gets parliament backing for Kosovo talks — 13 January 2013, 23:23 CET

Serbia's parliament early Sunday adopted a document calling for "autonomy" for its Serb minority in Kosovo as a part of EU-backed talks with Pristina.

Macedonians continue anti-government protests — 12 January 2013, 23:01 CET

More than 7,000 Macedonians gathered for fresh protests on Saturday, calling for the resignation of conservative Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and early elections to be held in this former Yugoslav republic.

Macedonia's local elections due on March 24 — 11 January 2013, 18:48 CET

Macedonia on Friday called local elections for March 24 in a tense political climate that has reigned since opposition boycotted parliament last month.

Slovak car sector posts record output in 2012 — 11 January 2013, 18:48 CET

Slovakia's auto sector posted record output of 900,000 vehicles in 2012, despite gloom in the European Union -- its key export market, the Slovak automotive industry association said Friday.

Russia hints at laxer Cyprus debt rules — 11 January 2013, 14:30 CET

Russia said on Friday it was ready to loosen the terms under which debt-ridden Cyprus had to repay loans which Russia had made to its close trading partner.

Romania unveils 2013 budget, eyes 1.8% growth — 10 January 2013, 22:06 CET

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Thursday unveiled the 2013 draft budget that targets 1.8 per cent economic growth and a public deficit under 2.0 per cent.

Bulgaria hopes to use all available EU funds — 10 January 2013, 18:34 CET

Bulgaria has spent just 35 per cent of European aid money made available since it joined the bloc, but plans to use it all by a 2015 payment deadline, the minister in charge of EU funds said on Thursday.

Tallinn first EU capital to give residents a free ride — 10 January 2013, 16:25 CET

Tallinn has become the first capital city in the European Union to give its residents a free ride on public transport.

No deal this month on Cyprus bailout: Juncker — 10 January 2013, 14:22 CET

Cyprus, the next eurozone bailout candidate after Greece, Ireland and Portugal, is unlikely to see a rescue accord agreed this month, eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker said Thursday.

South Korean Kia posts record 2012 production in Slovakia — 10 January 2013, 14:18 CET

South Korean car maker Kia Motors said on Thursday that it had raised output by 15 percent at its Slovak plant last year, assembling 292,000 cars despite a gloomy outlook for the European Union -- its key export market.

Shah Deniz group to decide on Nabucco route before July — 10 January 2013, 13:42 CET

The consortium developing a huge gas field in Azerbaijan will decide by the end of June whether to pick the EU's flagship Nabucco pipeline as its preferred transport route to Europe, a Nabucco representative said on Thursday.

Merkel says 'no special conditions' for Cyprus bailout — 09 January 2013, 17:33 CET

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that Cyprus would not be allowed any exceptional terms from its European partners as it seeks a bailout worth 17 billion euros ($22 billion).

Belgrade seeks autonomy for Kosovo's Serb minority — 09 January 2013, 17:34 CET

Serbia will ask for "autonomy" for its Serb minority in breakaway Kosovo as part of EU-backed talks with Pristina, Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said Wednesday.

Macedonia seizes EU-bound marijuana, arrests 15 — 08 January 2013, 22:02 CET

Macedonian police have seized some 350 kilogrammes (771 pounds) of marijuana bound for the European Union, worth up to one million euros ($1.3 million), and arrested 15 people, a minister said on Tuesday.

Turkey's EU membership is not a 'given': Swedish FM — 06 January 2013, 17:57 CET

Turkey's prospect of joining the European Union at the end of a lengthy process is not a certainty, Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told AFP Sunday, saying efforts would have to be made by both Ankara and Brussels.

Poland bans cultivation of GM maize, potatoes — 02 January 2013, 18:57 CET

Poland on Wednesday imposed new bans on the cultivation of certain genetically modified strains of maize and potatoes, a day after an EU required green light for GM crops took effect.

Turkey claims progress in EU bid despite Brussels criticism — 31 December 2012, 13:40 CET

Turkey claimed Monday it has made progress over the last year toward accession to the European Union, rejecting accusations by the bloc against its human rights record and reform efforts.

Serb nationalist regime turns a step closer to EU — 30 December 2012, 13:40 CET

Serbia's new government, a coalition of nationalists and socialists that led the country during the 1990s Balkan wars, has surprised many with its pro-European moves, especially regarding breakaway Kosovo.

Hungary bars foreigners from buying farmland — 22 December 2012, 23:32 CET

Hungary has amended its constitution to bar foreigners from buying farmland, a move the government called "historic," but one that could cause friction with the European Union.

EU, Russia say new settlements are 'obstacle to peace' — 21 December 2012, 19:26 CET

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday issued a rare and strong joint condemnation of Israeli plans to massively expand settlements.