Eastern & Central Europe

Latest news about eastern and central Europe and EU enlargement.

Five Kosovo ex-guerrillas arrested in war crimes probe — 23 May 2013, 15:52 CET

Police on Thursday arrested five ethnic Albanian former guerrillas suspected of war crimes against civilians during the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo, the EU rule of law mission said.

Kosovo's ex-anti-graft prosecutor jailed for bribe — 23 May 2013, 15:42 CET

A European Union-run court on Thursday sentenced Kosovo's former top anti-graft prosecutor to five years in prison for corruption, said the EU's rule-of-law mission.

Lithuania approves growing hemp for textiles — 23 May 2013, 15:02 CET

Lithuania on Thursday legalised growing hemp as of January for the industrial-scale production of textiles, making it the last of the EU's 27 members to give it the green light.

Bosnia charges 12 over human trafficking — 22 May 2013, 16:48 CET

Bosnia prosecutors on Wednesday indicted 12 people, including two Turkish nationals, of being part of an international criminal network trafficking Turkish immigrants towards the European Union.

New EU climate policy unlikely before 2015: Poland — 22 May 2013, 15:44 CET

The European Union is unlikely to hammer out its new policy on global warming ahead of a global climate deal that could be clinched in 2015, Poland's environment minister said Wednesday.

'High risk' of deeper Cyprus recession: central bank — 22 May 2013, 15:44 CET

Cyprus's central bank governor said on Wednesday the country's teetering economy could fall deeper into recession than previously thought.

EU urges impartiality after Georgia ex-PM's arrest — 22 May 2013, 15:44 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday called for fair and impartial treatment of Georgia's former prime minister Vano Merabishvili, arrested the previous day on corruption charges.

Cyprus minister says 2013 GDP fall could be double-digit — 21 May 2013, 22:34 CET

Cypriot Finance Minister Haris Georgiades said on Tuesday the island could suffer a double-digit contraction in GDP this year as a result of swingeing cuts adopted in return for a eurozone bailout.

Nabucco pipeline project awaits Azerbaijan commitment — 21 May 2013, 22:33 CET

Officials from five countries with stakes in the Nabucco European pipeline project said Tuesday they were confident it will benefit from crucial Azerbaijan gas supplies.

Top Hungary court rejects appeal to block constitution changes — 21 May 2013, 22:33 CET

Hungary's constitutional court threw out Tuesday an appeal by the country's parliamentary ombudsman to annul a controversial set of constitutional changes which have drawn ire from the EU.

Hungary moves to ease tensions after Orban Nazi slur — 21 May 2013, 13:09 CET

Hungary has sought to ease tensions with Berlin after Prime Minister Viktor Orban asked Germany not to "send in the tanks again" in a recent interview on state radio.

Germany seeks 'visible' Kosovo-Serbia progress — 20 May 2013, 16:55 CET

Germany on Monday called for "visible" progress in implementing a landmark deal between Serbia and Kosovo before securing Berlin's backing for Belgrade's bid to join the European Union.

EU "dismayed" by attack on gay rights rally in Georgia — 20 May 2013, 14:26 CET

The European Union on Monday condemned the violent disruption of a gay rights rally in Georgia by thousands of ultra-conservative Orthodox church supporters led by priests.

IMF sees Cyprus growth in 2015, warns of pitfalls — 17 May 2013, 18:31 CET

Cyprus should return to growth in 2015 after three years of deep recession, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday, but will need to ensure that its sweeping austerity programme does not slip off the tracks.

Bulgaria president to convene parliament May 21 — 17 May 2013, 17:31 CET

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said Friday he will convene parliament on May 21 in hope of breaking a political deadlock following inconclusive elections in the European Union's poorest country.

Ashton hopes Balkan neighbours will follow Croatia — 16 May 2013, 17:37 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Thursday expressed a hope that all Balkan countries would follow the same path as Croatia, set to join the European bloc on July 1.

Human Rights Watch calls for EU action on Hungary — 16 May 2013, 17:13 CET

Human Rights Watch urged the European Union Thursday to put more pressure on Hungary including a possible suspension of voting rights to bring the country into line with EU law.

Romania names new anti-corruption prosecutor — 16 May 2013, 00:26 CET

Romania, whose justice system is closely monitored by the European Union, Wednesday announced the appointment of a new anti-corruption prosecutor after months of controversy over the key post.

IMF releases first bailout funds for Cyprus — 15 May 2013, 22:21 CET

The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday approved a 1.0 billion euro bailout loan for Cyprus and released the first $110.7 million to the Cypriot government.

Croatia arrests 25 suspected human traffickers — 15 May 2013, 15:58 CET

Croatia has arrested 25 people suspected of being part of human trafficking networks smuggling mostly Kosovo and Turkish nationals to the European Union, police said on Wednesday.

Serbia, Kosovo to meet next week on Brussels accord — 14 May 2013, 20:13 CET

The prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo will meet in Brussels on May 21 for follow-up talks on an EU-brokered deal aimed at normalising their ties, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's office said Tuesday.

Cyprus aims to regain trust by 2016 after bailout cash — 14 May 2013, 13:06 CET

Cyprus aims to recover market confidence by 2016 after receiving the first tranche of a 10 billion euro rescue package to save its recession-hit economy, Finance Minister Haris Georgiades said on Tuesday.

Slovenia yet to dispel bailout concerns, warns Rehn — 14 May 2013, 12:00 CET

The European Union's top economic official warned Monday that Slovenia may not have done enough to escape becoming the eurozone's sixth bailout case.

Warsaw, Prague want common gas market in Central Europe — 13 May 2013, 19:35 CET

The prime ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic on Monday called for a common gas market in Central Europe that would span from the Baltic sea to the Adriatic.

Afghans, Croatians charged with human trafficking — 13 May 2013, 17:52 CET

Prosecutors in Croatia on Monday pressed charges on three Afghans and seven Croatians for their alleged role in a human trafficking network that smuggled people into the European Union.