Eastern & Central Europe

Latest news about eastern and central Europe and EU enlargement.

EU opens anti-trust probe into Bulgarian energy group — 03 December 2012, 14:01 CET

The European Commission has announced an anti-trust probe into Bulgarian Energy Holding on suspicion that it was abusing its dominant market position to limit competition.

Russian diplomat slams EU-backed Caspian pipeline — 01 December 2012, 22:56 CET

A Russian diplomat on Saturday called a planned pipeline linking gas-rich Turkmenistan with Europe via the Caspian Sea a political project of the West that could cause tensions without ensuring Europe's energy security.

Romania on tightrope to secure growth: analysts — 07 December 2012, 16:16 CET

Romania, still recovering from a painful austerity drive, will have to walk a tightrope between cutting spending and spurring growth no matter who wins polls on December 9, analysts warn.

Cyprus banks need 'up to 10 billion euros in aid' — 30 November 2012, 15:17 CET

Cyprus' troubled banking system may need as much as 10 billion euros in EU bailout funds to recapitalise, a figure in line with expectations, the central bank chief said on Friday.

Angry Serbs burn EU flags after Kosovo ex-PM cleared — 30 November 2012, 17:17 CET

Angry Serb ultra-nationalists on Friday burned flags of the EU, US, NATO and Kosovo, protesting a UN court's acquittal of ethnic Albanian former rebel chief Ramush Haradinaj on charges of war crimes against Serbs.

Slovenia factfile — 30 November 2012, 11:06 CET

Slovenia, which is holding a presidential run-off on Sunday, was one of the first republics to break away from Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and is the only one so far to have joined the European Union and eurozone.

Cyprus No. 2 lender Popular posts EUR 1.7 bn losses — 28 November 2012, 21:31 CET

Cyprus Popular Bank, the island's number two lender, announced post-tax losses on Wednesday of more than 1.67 billion euros for the first nine months of 2012, sharply up on the same period of last year.

Powers eye December talks with Iran in Turkey — 28 November 2012, 16:45 CET

World powers are proposing to Iran to hold their first round of talks in six months on Tehran's nuclear programme already in the first half of December in Istanbul, diplomatic sources say.

Malta's Tonio Borg appointed new Health Commissioner — 28 November 2012, 13:11 CET

Former Maltese foreign minister Tonio Borg was formally endorsed as the European Union's new Health Commissioner by EU ministers Wednesday despite some debate over his conservative Roman Catholic views.

Bosnia late in EU integration reforms: Commissioner — 27 November 2012, 21:10 CET

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele on Tuesday warned Bosnia it was seriously late in its progress toward EU membership as it had failed to meet the conditions set by the bloc.

Russia has no intention to reduce euro reserves: PM — 27 November 2012, 17:12 CET

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday that Moscow has no plans to reduce the amount of euros in its cash reserves, as the world benefits from having a second strong global currency.

Gruesome Kosovo probe held under tight security — 27 November 2012, 19:07 CET

Visitors need 24-hour security clearance, grizzled Belgian guards man the entrance, no phones or cameras please: welcome to the latest, and probably the last, of the big Balkans war crimes probes.

Russia warns EU of visa retaliation — 27 November 2012, 11:57 CET

Russia on Tuesday warned the European Union that Moscow was considering retaliation if the bloc further delays dropping visa requirements for Russians.

EU urges Croatia, Serbia to reconcile — 26 November 2012, 23:15 CET

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele on Monday urged Croatia and Serbia to settle their disputes over war crimes after their relations hit the lowest point since the end of the 1991-1995 conflict.

Kosovo PM denounces EU over ex-rebel's detention — 26 November 2012, 23:07 CET

Prime Minister Hashim Thaci lashed out on Monday at the EU's legal mission in Kosovo after it sent one of his former wartime guerrilla allies back into custody pending a retrial on war crimes charges.

Romania slashes 2012 growth forecast to 0.7% — 26 November 2012, 17:48 CET

Romania's economic forecast commission (CNP) slashed Monday its 2012 growth estimate to 0.7 per cent from 1.7 per cent.

Romania's anti-graft agency denounces pressures — 26 November 2012, 17:50 CET

Political pressure on Romania's government anti-graft watchdog "has grown exponentially", its president told AFP on Monday, ahead of December 9 parliamentary elections.

Latvia warned not to make poor pay price of austerity — 26 November 2012, 17:50 CET

International watchdogs on Monday hailed the economic reforms Latvia enacted during a deep recession, but urged it to ensure that the poorest do not bear the brunt of austerity.

EU warns Georgia against political retribution — 26 November 2012, 17:47 CET

The EU's foreign policy chief on Monday warned Georgia against political prosecutions after several top figures from President Mikheil Saakashvili's recently ousted government were arrested.

Russia PM says EU economic crisis 'very serious threat' — 26 November 2012, 10:47 CET

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Moscow was nervously watching the economic crisis in the European Union, which he said represented a serious threat to Russia's own economic performance.

Albanians in Balkans vow to unite 'within EU' — 25 November 2012, 23:13 CET

The leaders of Albania and Kosovo vowed to achieve unity for ethnic Albanians in the region during the centennial celebration of Albania's independence in the Macedonian capital Sunday but said it should be "within EU boundaries".

Kosovo ex-rebel turned lawmaker detained over war crimes — 25 November 2012, 12:52 CET

A top ethnic Albanian guerilla commander-turned-politician, accused of committing war crimes against Serb and Albanian civilians and prisoners-of-war in the 1998-1999 conflict, was put back in detention Saturday, the EU mission in Kosovo (EULEX) said.

Cyprus awaits EU announcement on bailout deal — 23 November 2012, 19:07 CET

International lenders said on Friday good progress has been made on reaching a bailout deal for struggling eurozone member Cyprus, with the country's president saying "convergence" had been achieved.

'Good progress' made toward Cyprus bailout: lenders — 23 November 2012, 16:07 CET

International lenders said on Thursday that good progress has been made on reaching a bailout deal for struggling eurozone member Cyprus and that discussions are continuing.

Cyprus awaits EU announcement on bailout deal — 23 November 2012, 13:27 CET

Trade union leaders were briefed on Friday on terms the Cyprus government has agreed for a bailout by international lenders, as Nicosia awaits final confirmation from Brussels, officials said.