Eastern & Central Europe

Latest news about eastern and central Europe and EU enlargement.

US welcomes Serbia, Kosovo deal — 19 April 2013, 20:37 CET

The United States on Friday welcomed an historic deal between Serbia and its former province of Kosovo, as US Secretary of State John Kerry called for the pact to be swiftly implemented.

Cyprus unveils workfare measures to ease bailout shock — 19 April 2013, 21:12 CET

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades unveiled a package of measures on Friday aimed at keeping Cypriots in employment as the massive costs of a eurozone bailout deliver a huge blow to the island's economy.

Poland may not be ready for euro for dozen years: minister — 19 April 2013, 21:11 CET

Poland's finance minister said Friday it may take a dozen years for the EU member to be ready to adopt the euro, adding there was no big need to rush to join.

Kosovo Serbs want referendum in Serbia on Kosovo deal: MPs — 19 April 2013, 20:55 CET

Kosovo Serbs want Serbia to hold a referendum on whether to accept the EU-sponsored deal signed on Friday in Brussels between Belgrade and Pristina that would normalise their relations.

Kosovo: key dates since independence — 19 April 2013, 21:12 CET

EU-sponsored talks finally produced a hard-won normalisation accord Friday between Serbia and breakaway Kosovo which was hailed in Brussels as a key step away from a violent past and towards closer ties with the EU.

NATO hails Serbia-Kosovo accord, ready to help — 19 April 2013, 20:56 CET

NATO, whose troops help maintain security in Kosovo, hailed an EU-brokered normalisation accord Friday between Belgrade and Pristina and said it stood ready to help implement it.

Serbia, Kosovo strike historic deal — 20 April 2013, 11:45 CET

The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo initialled a historic deal Friday to normalise ties, a move key to the future of the Western Balkans and destined also to bring both closer to the European Union.

Limited concessions in Hungary-EU dispute over law changes — 19 April 2013, 16:28 CET

Hungary on Friday dug in on a key constitutional change it has made that has stirred EU ire and scrutiny, though it offered limited "concessions" to other amendments in a bid to defuse an escalating row with Brussels.

Serbia, Kosovo in fresh effort to normalise ties — 19 April 2013, 16:28 CET

Crunch talks on normalising Kosovo-Serbia ties that are key to their prospects of joining the European Union resumed in Brussels on Friday, the EU said.

Kosovo ex-rebel now MP goes on retrial for war crimes — 18 April 2013, 21:48 CET

A top ethnic Albanian guerrilla commander turned-politician and his nine associates on Thursday went on retrial for war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war.

Lithuania protests airspace violation by Belarus fighter — 18 April 2013, 21:48 CET

Lithuania on Thursday accused Belarus of violating its airspace with a military fighter plane, an incident coinciding with the Belarussian prime minister's visit to the Baltic state.

Cyprus parliament hikes corporate tax rate — 18 April 2013, 21:55 CET

MPs hiked Cyprus's ultra-low corporate tax rate on Thursday as part of a package of measures to secure a controversial 10 billion euro rescue package that must still be ratified by parliament.

Britain assures Bulgaria, Romania on job access: Sofia — 18 April 2013, 21:40 CET

Britain has assured Romania and Bulgaria that work restrictions on their citizens will be lifted as planned in 2014, as the eastern European nations battle perceptions the move will cause a wave of immigration.

Kosovo, Serbia to resume talks Friday — 18 April 2013, 21:40 CET

Kosovo and Serbia will resume talks in Brussels on Friday following another failure to clinch a deal to normalise ties and ease tension in the Balkans, officials here said.

EU envoy says Tymoshenko release key 'objective' awaiting bloc deal — 18 April 2013, 17:32 CET

The release of jailed former premier Yulia Tymoshenko is a key objective of European Union policy as it reviews ties with Ukraine and the possible signing of an association and trade accord, top officials said after an in-depth trip to Kiev.

Latvia's airBaltic reports EUR 27 m loss — 18 April 2013, 17:06 CET

Latvian flag-carrier airBaltic on Thursday reported a loss of 19 million lats (27 million euros, $35 million) for 2012, but insisted the figure showed a management turnaround plan was working.

Lithuania anticipates thaw in EU-Belarus ties — 18 April 2013, 15:52 CET

Lithuania said Thursday it expected smoother relations between neighbour Belarus and the European Union, as the Baltic state gears up to take over the rotating EU presidency in July.

Ashton says Bosnia lacks progress on reform — 18 April 2013, 21:35 CET

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Thursday that Bosnia has done little, if anything, recently to carry out reforms needed for it to eventually join the European Union.

Serbia, Kosovo talks fail once again — 18 April 2013, 22:40 CET

Serbia and Kosovo again failed to clinch a deal to normalise ties and ease tension in the Balkans after lengthy talks brokered by the European Union lasting through Wednesday until Thursday.

Romania drops target date for euro adoption: report — 17 April 2013, 21:21 CET

Romania has dropped setting a target date for adopting the euro, a report said, although officials insisted Wednesday that joining the single currency remains a fundamental objective for the country.

Brussels reminds Hungary of constitutional EU obligations — 17 April 2013, 16:49 CET

The European Commission flashed another warning past Hungary on Wednesday, threatening to launch EU-level legal attacks against controversial changes to the country's constitution.

Slovak car sector expects moderate growth this year — 17 April 2013, 16:49 CET

Slovakian auto companies, the country's economic engine, expect moderate growth this year despite gloom elsewhere across the European Union, their industry association ZAP said Wednesday.

EU makes final push to wrest 2012 Serbia-Kosovo deal — 17 April 2013, 16:47 CET

The European Union made a final push Wednesday to wrest a 2012 Serbia-Kosovo deal to normalise ties between the fractious Balkans neighbours and turn a page on the continent's last trouble-spot.

Romania pockets $95 million from Transgaz stake sale — 17 April 2013, 10:29 CET

Romania has sold a 15 per cent stake in the natural gas distributor Transgaz, raising $94.9 million (72 million euros), Energy Minister Constantin Nita said on Wednesday.

Hungary upbeat on growth, EU deficit procedure exit — 16 April 2013, 21:47 CET

Hungary's recession-hit economy is set to grow again through 2016, while a drop in the public deficit should allow it to exit the EU's excessive deficit procedure, Economy Minister Mihaly Varga said Tuesday.