Eastern & Central Europe

Latest news about eastern and central Europe and EU enlargement.

Romania president seeks bipartisan support for EU pact — 13 February 2012, 19:06 CET

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday urged the country's ruling coalition and opposition leaders to conclude a protocol in support of a proposed European Union fiscal pact.

Northern Kosovo Serbs to hold controversial referendum — 13 February 2012, 19:06 CET

Serbs in northern Kosovo said Monday they would go ahead with a referendum this week, despite opposition from Pristina, the international community and even Belgrade.

Romania to cut 600 postal jobs in accord with IMF: report — 13 February 2012, 00:36 CET

Romania's centre-right government has agreed to an IMF call to cut 600 jobs in the state-owned postal service before opening it up to private capital, the Mediafax news agency reported Sunday.

Macedonia seizes 22 kilos of heroin, detains four — 11 February 2012, 23:32 CET

Macedonian police seized some 22 kilogrames (48.4 pounds) of EU-bound heroin, worth up to three million euros (four million dollars), and detained four smugglers, a minister said on Saturday.

Russia's Putin too busy to meet election observers — 11 February 2012, 14:10 CET

A group of European vote monitors said Saturday they were denied a meeting with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin ahead of next month's presidential elections because of his busy schedule.

Poland, Lithuania eye EUR 471m gas link — 10 February 2012, 16:16 CET

Poland and Lithuania's gas supply companies said on Friday they intended to build a 471-million-euro pipeline to hook the Baltic states to the rest of the EU's energy market.

Merkel to meet Danish, Dutch, Estonian leaders on euro — 10 February 2012, 15:16 CET

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks with her Danish, Dutch and Estonian counterparts on Monday to discuss the euro crisis ahead of a European Union summit in March, her spokesman said.

Gazprom plans increased supplies to Europe in 2012: report — 10 February 2012, 15:14 CET

Russian gas giant Gazprom said on Friday it intended to increase gas exports to Europe in 2012 compared with last year, even though it has declined to pump extra gas this winter amid a cold snap.

Russia must see 'reality' in Syria: EU's Ashton — 10 February 2012, 10:50 CET

Russia must confront "the reality" of the deadly crackdown in Syria, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said Thursday, after Moscow vetoed a UN resolution condemning the violence.

EU voices 'grave concerns' over Hungarian media laws — 09 February 2012, 17:05 CET

The Commission voiced "grave concerns" over Hungary's controversial media laws Thursday, warning the threat of big fines for breaking the rules can lead to self-censorship.

No new aid for Greece beyond current bailout: Slovakia — 09 February 2012, 13:52 CET

Slovakia opposes further aid to embattled eurozone member Greece, beyond a 130-billion-euro ($173 billion) loan package which Athens is trying to unlock, Finance Minister Ivan Miklos said Thursday.

Hungary opposition radio gets 60-day stay of execution — 08 February 2012, 17:29 CET

Hungary's sole nationwide opposition station Klubradio, which recently lost its licence, on Wednesday said it had been granted a 60-day extension pending a court review.

Interim Report on Progress under the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism in Romania — 08 February 2012, 17:30 CET

When they joined the EU on 1 January 2007, Romania and Bulgaria still had progress to make in the fields of judicial reform, corruption and organised crime. To smooth the entry of both countries and at the same time safeguard the workings of its policies and institutions, the EU decided to establish a special "cooperation and verification mechanism" to help them address these outstanding shortcomings. In December 2006, the Commission set criteria ("benchmarks") for assessing progress made on these issues (consult the reports). The decision to continue assessing Bulgaria and Romania shows the EU's commitment to see the two countries develop the effective administrative and judicial systems they need to deliver on the obligations of membership as well as enjoying the benefits. Progress on judicial reform, corruption and organized crime will allow Bulgarians and Romanians to enjoy their full rights as EU citizens.

Interim Report on Progress under the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism in Bulgaria — 08 February 2012, 17:25 CET

When they joined the EU on 1 January 2007, Romania and Bulgaria still had progress to make in the fields of judicial reform, corruption and organised crime. To smooth the entry of both countries and at the same time safeguard the workings of its policies and institutions, the EU decided to establish a special "cooperation and verification mechanism" to help them address these outstanding shortcomings. In December 2006, the Commission set criteria ("benchmarks") for assessing progress made on these issues (consult the reports). The decision to continue assessing Bulgaria and Romania shows the EU's commitment to see the two countries develop the effective administrative and judicial systems they need to deliver on the obligations of membership as well as enjoying the benefits. Progress on judicial reform, corruption and organized crime will allow Bulgarians and Romanians to enjoy their full rights as EU citizens.

EU criticism douses Romania, Bulgaria Schengen hopes — 08 February 2012, 17:29 CET

Romanian and Bulgarian hopes of rapidly joining the Schengen visa-free travel zone were dealt a new blow Wednesday as an EU report urged them to take more action against corruption and organised crime.

EU funding shortfall for ex-Soviet nuclear plants clean-up — 08 February 2012, 11:41 CET

The EU faces a shortfall of some 2.5 billion euros to complete de-commissioning of eight ex-Soviet nuclear plants in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia, says the European Court of Auditors.

EU refuses to fund 'pointless' Greece-Turkey border fence — 07 February 2012, 19:01 CET

The European Commission rejected on Tuesday a request from Greece to help pay to build a fence along its porous border with Turkey, calling the project "pointless."

Kosovo organ trade probe tries to track victims abroad — 09 February 2012, 22:58 CET

EU prosecutors in Kosovo trying seven people accused of organ trafficking in a landmark case said Tuesday they had asked Russia, Ukraine, Israel and Turkey to help identify victims of the scam.

Bulgaria pledges to shut mental homes — 06 February 2012, 19:16 CET

Bulgaria pledged Monday to shut its dilapidated mental homes after the European Court of Human Rights condemned Sofia over an inmate held for years after being wrongly diagnosed as schizophrenic.

Russian gas flows to EU returning to normal: Commission — 06 February 2012, 19:19 CET

Gas flows from Russia have returned to normal levels in six European Union nations and are increasing in Italy, Germany and Romania after a cold snap caused a shortfall, the EU said on Monday.

Romanian prime minister resigns to 'defuse' strain: official — 06 February 2012, 13:29 CET

Romania's centre-right Prime Minister Emil Boc resigned on Monday amid public anger at austerity measures and despite praise from the IMF and the EU for piloting drastic economic reforms.

IMF, EU trim Romania's growth forecast — 05 February 2012, 20:54 CET

The International Monetary Fund and the European Union on Sunday said they had trimmed Romania's 2012 growth forecast to 1.5-2.0 per cent, due to international economic turbulence.

Flagship EU gas pipeline project near collapse: analysts — 05 February 2012, 11:35 CET

Europe's flagship project to bolster its energy security by building a major gas pipeline to the Caspian that skirts Russia is near collapse, with a newly confident Turkey playing a key role.

Russia's Gazprom says unable to pump extra gas to Europe — 04 February 2012, 22:42 CET

Gazprom said on Saturday it could not pump additional gas to Western Europe amid a cold snap, after EU officials and energy firms said the Russian giant's deliveries had dropped in several states.

India, Russia, US, China plan anti-carbon tax talks — 04 February 2012, 12:41 CET

India, Russia, the United States, China and other countries will meet in Moscow this month to decide whether to retaliate against the EU's decision to impose a carbon tax on air travel, a report says.