Eastern & Central Europe

Latest news about eastern and central Europe and EU enlargement.

Up to EU to decide on Cyprus aid: Putin — 21 December 2012, 19:20 CET

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday it was up to European Union countries to decide on a bailout for Cyprus, despite its close economic links with Moscow.

Combative Putin takes EU to task — 21 December 2012, 19:33 CET

EU leaders played up the positives of a 30th summit with Russia Friday but a combative Russian President Vladimir Putin took them bluntly to task over energy and human rights.

Romania's MPs send 'bad' signal against graft: PM — 21 December 2012, 16:12 CET

Romanian MPs on Friday refused to allow the arrest of a lawmaker accused of corruption, a move that will undermine the country's international credibility according to Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

Bailout candidate Cyprus rules out debt haircut — 21 December 2012, 16:11 CET

Bailout candidate Cyprus on Friday ruled out any "haircut" on its debt in order to help pave the way for much needed financial aid.

Bulgaria names new top prosecutor despite EU concerns — 21 December 2012, 12:34 CET

Bulgaria's top judicial body has elected a new chief national prosecutor despite criticism he is too close to the government, even as the European Commission is closely monitoring the country's judiciary.

Topless Femen feminists detained in anti-Putin protest — 21 December 2012, 13:02 CET

Four pro-democracy activists from Ukraine's feminist group Femen staged a brief topless protest Friday against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in Brussels attending a European Union summit.

Eurogroup, ECB rule out debt haircut for Cyprus — 21 December 2012, 19:27 CET

The Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers and the European Central Bank ruled out Friday a partial debt write-off for Cyprus.

EU welcomes Putin with Syria back in focus — 21 December 2012, 19:32 CET

Russian President Vladimir Putin went into talks with European Union leaders Friday, tackling a lengthy agenda of contentious issues from trade and human rights to Syria.

Bulgaria says Azeri gas group to take 50% stake in Nabucco — 20 December 2012, 21:39 CET

Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz II consortium may acquire as much as 50 percent in the Nabucco gas pipeline project, boosting prospects for its construction by ensuring gas supplies, a Bulgarian company involved said Thursday.

Belgrade wants autonomy for Kosovo Serbs: report — 20 December 2012, 21:39 CET

Serbia wants for its Serb minority in breakaway Kosovo a "high degree of autonomy" modelled on Spain's Catalan region, Beta news agency reported on Thursday, quoting a document to be sent to the republic's parliament for debate.

Tough-talking Putin visits Brussels — 20 December 2012, 11:50 CET

The European Union welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, highlighting its partnership with a Moscow determined to forcefully defend its interests against Western interference.

Cyprus living hand to mouth until EU bailout comes — 19 December 2012, 10:54 CET

Cyprus has taken the extraordinary step of dipping into public authority pension funds to pay salaries for December but it still teeters precariously on the brink while waiting for EU bailout money.

EU, Montenegro make progress in accession talks — 18 December 2012, 23:59 CET

The European Union held a first round of accession talks with Montenegro on Tuesday and approved one of the 35 chapters of its application for membership, which premier Milo Djukanovic has made his top priority.

Iceland in new stride towards EU membership — 18 December 2012, 18:36 CET

Iceland made "substantial progress" in its quest to join the European Union, though the contentious issue of fishing rights has yet to be tackled, the EU said on Tuesday.

Hungary wades into Greece-Macedonia naming row — 17 December 2012, 18:53 CET

Hungary took a stand Monday in a virulent dispute between Greece and Macedonia, announcing it recognised the latter as the "Republic of Macedonia" despite a naming row that has seen Athens block its neighbour's bid to join the EU.

Romania's president picks as PM man who tried to oust him — 17 December 2012, 18:49 CET

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday re-appointed as prime minister the man who tried to impeach him earlier this year, averting the risk of fresh a political crisis in one of the European Union's newest states.

US expects Romania to avoid 'replay' of political crisis — 15 December 2012, 11:34 CET

Washington expects strategic ally Romania to stick to its rule of law and IMF commitments in order to avoid a "replay" of the political crisis last summer, the US ambassador to Romania told AFP.

Slovenia warns might delay Croatia's EU entry over bank row — 14 December 2012, 16:59 CET

Slovenia might still block Croatia's accession to the European Union, planned for July 2013, if a long-standing dispute over bank savings is not quickly resolved, Slovenia's foreign minister warned Friday.

Poland, France want an EU farm aid budget increase — 14 December 2012, 16:59 CET

Poland and France will join forces in a bid to increase the EU's farm aid funds, which are already the overall budget's most expensive item, their agriculture ministers said on Friday.

EU funds frozen for Lithuanian nuclear decommissioning — 14 December 2012, 16:59 CET

European Union funding for the decommissioning of Lithuania's Soviet-era nuclear reactor has been frozen to raise pressure to wrap up talks on the operation.

Romania probes EUR 85m bank fraud — 13 December 2012, 18:44 CET

Two banks operating in Romania have been hit by an 85-million-euro fraud carried out by a criminal group that took out a string of illegal corporate loans its members never repaid, prosecutors said Thursday.

Serbian tycoon arrested in corruption case — 12 December 2012, 18:53 CET

Police arrested Serbia's richest tycoon on Wednesday in a major sweep launched under the government's campaign to root out corruption, a key condition in its bid to join the European Union.

Police say smash Balkans human trafficking ring — 12 December 2012, 17:17 CET

Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia have arrested 45 people suspected of belonging to a Balkans human trafficking ring smuggling European Union-bound immigrants, police said Wednesday.

Poor Romania expands parliament — 12 December 2012, 16:34 CET

Romania's new parliament is preparing to welcome more than 100 extra deputies following weekend elections, an increase that is raising eyebrows in one of the poorest countries in the European Union.

Bulgaria to block start of Macedonia-EU talks — 11 December 2012, 17:07 CET

Bulgaria said Tuesday it will block Macedonia's bid to set a starting date for EU accession talks later this week, after earlier lashing out at what it sees as Skopje's nationalistic rhetoric.