Eastern & Central Europe

Latest news about eastern and central Europe and EU enlargement.

Romania's ruling coalition comfortably wins weekend poll — 10 December 2012, 18:07 CET

Romania's governing centre-left coalition comfortably won parliamentary elections, results showed on Monday, in an outcome likely to fuel tensions that have raised concern over the democratic credentials of one of EU's newest members.

Ukraine deputy prosecutor 'banned from entering US' — 11 December 2012, 17:06 CET

Ukraine's deputy prosecutor general, a key figure in the legal campaign against jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, said Monday that the United States had cancelled his five-year entry visa.

Kosovo, Serbia launch joint border checks — 10 December 2012, 22:12 CET

Two border crossings between Serbia and its former province Kosovo, which Belgrade does not recognise, opened under joint management for the first time Monday, following European Union mediation.

South Stream says undersea construction to begin in 2014 — 10 December 2012, 15:59 CET

Construction of the undersea section of the South Stream gas pipeline linking Russia to European consumers will only begin in 2014, the consortium said Monday after a major ceremony led by President Vladimir Putin launched the project.

Romania's ruling coalition comfortably wins weekend poll — 10 December 2012, 14:20 CET

Romania's governing coalition comfortably won a weekend parliamentary poll, results showed on Monday, in an outcome likely to fuel tensions that have raised concern over the democratic credentials of one of EU's newest members.

EU states divided on wider talks with Serbia — 08 December 2012, 01:00 CET

EU member states, due to discuss the possible opening of wider talks with Serbia next week, are deeply divided on the issue despite recent progress the country has made with Kosovo, diplomatic sources said Friday.

A trio of gas pipelines fight for southern Europe — 07 December 2012, 17:05 CET

Three competing pipelines, South Stream, Nabucco and TAP, have launched projects in the past few years to supply southern Europe with gas from Russia, the Caspian Sea and beyond as Europe seeks to diversify its gas sources:

Latvia holds position as EU growth leader: data — 07 December 2012, 13:32 CET

Latvia remains top of the European Union growth table after rebounding from the world's deepest recession, data in the Baltic state showed on Friday.

Putin launches construction of South Stream pipeline — 07 December 2012, 17:03 CET

President Vladimir Putin on Friday launched construction of the long-awaited South Stream pipeline that the Kremlin hopes will pump Russia's gas to Europe while avoiding its unpredictable neighbour Ukraine.

Russia hits back at EU with own human rights report — 06 December 2012, 21:59 CET

Russia, a target of regular criticism from Europe over human rights, hit back Thursday with a report on the rights situation in the European Union, saying it was plagued by racism, police abuse and neo-Nazism.

Cyprus urges 2013 austerity as recession deepens — 06 December 2012, 18:49 CET

Cyprus must impose harsh austerity under the terms of an agreed EU bailout as it faces an unprecedented recession, Finance Minister Vassos Shiarly told parliament on Thursday.

Bulgaria president vetoes cash-for-citizenship law — 06 December 2012, 14:38 CET

Bulgaria's president on Thursday vetoed parts of a new law offering citizenship to anyone investing one million leva (511,000 euros, $668,000) into the EU country's ailing economy.

Russia must meet WTO commitments: EU — 05 December 2012, 18:38 CET

Russia, which has just joined the World Trade Organization after years of difficult talks, must meet membership commitments or face the consequences if it does not, the European Union said Wednesday.

Bulgaria lashes out at EU hopeful Macedonia — 05 December 2012, 19:08 CET

Bulgaria's president took a swipe at EU hopeful Macedonia on Wednesday, criticising what he called a lack of "good neighbourliness" and rising nationalistic rhetoric.

Key facts about Romania — 05 December 2012, 10:28 CET

Romania, which votes Sunday to elect its 470-member parliament, is the European Union's newest member and also its second poorest country.

Key players in Romania parliamentary vote — 05 December 2012, 10:27 CET

With Romania heading to the polls on Sunday to elect its 470-member parliament, here are some of the key political players in the ex-communist Balkan country, which joined the European Union in 2007 and is its second-poorest member after Bulgaria:

Serbia, Kosovo strike fresh deals to ease Balkans tension — 05 December 2012, 10:27 CET

Serbia and Kosovo struck key political deals Tuesday in talks to ease Western Balkans' tension, agreeing to jointly manage crossings on their flashpoint border and send liaison officers to each others' capitals.

Cyprus president blames banks for bailout — 04 December 2012, 22:48 CET

President Demetris Christofias on Tuesday blamed "criminal" action by Greek-exposed banks for Cyprus having to accept painful bailout terms for EU aid.

EU declares eurozone Malta back inside deficit limits — 04 December 2012, 22:42 CET

The European Union declared Tuesday that the eurozone Mediterranean island economy of Malta was officially back within bloc deficit limits, a rare bright light after three years of the debt crisis.

Hopes of deal on border crossings at Serbia-Kosovo talks — 04 December 2012, 22:40 CET

The premiers of Serbia and Kosovo hold a third round of EU-brokered talks over a working dinner Tuesday amid hopes of a deal to ease tension along their flashpoint border.

Montenegro's new PM says EU, economy are priorities — 04 December 2012, 22:39 CET

Montenegro's parliament on Tuesday voted in a new centre-left government headed by veteran Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, who vowed to lead the country towards EU membership and boost the crisis-hit economy.

Croatia adopts 2013 budget — 04 December 2012, 14:30 CET

Croatian lawmakers on Tuesday adopted a budget for 2013 based on a wider deficit of 3.1 percent of output and a forecast of a 1.8 percent growth in the recession-hit economy.

Serbia, Kosovo PMs to hold fresh talks at EU — 03 December 2012, 20:22 CET

The prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo will hold a third round of normalisation talks under EU auspices on Tuesday, the EU said.

Montenegro delays inauguration of new government — 03 December 2012, 16:17 CET

Montenegro's parliament postponed by 24 hours a vote to approve Prime Minister-designate Milo Djukanovic's new cabinet at the request of a fractious opposition, the body's speaker said Monday.

Poland set to become last EU state to ratify landmine pact — 03 December 2012, 15:43 CET

Poland is set to become the final member of the European Union to join the Ottawa Convention banning landmines, organisers said as a global conference on the deadly weapons opened here on Monday.