Eastern & Central Europe

Latest news about eastern and central Europe and EU enlargement. Since it was founded in 1958, the EU has regularly accepted new member countries. Each applicant country must meet certain requirements before membership is permitted. Regular enlargements have seen the EU grow from its original 6 founding members to 28 in 2013. Any country that satisfies the conditions for enlargement can apply to be a candidate. The European Commission, at the request of the European Council, assesses the applicant’s ability to meet the conditions of membership. If the opinion is positive and the Council agrees a negotiating mandate, discussions are formally opened between the applicant and the EU. At the start of 2013, five countries had been accepted as EU candidate countries: Iceland, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo (under UN Security Resolution 1244) have the status of potential candidates.

Starting a business in Bosnia and Herzegovina — 04 February 2010, 13:08 CET

This World Bank site provides information about the procedures and costs associated with starting a business in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina — 04 February 2010, 12:55 CET

Contacts of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

EU Assistance in Albania: Activities — 03 February 2010, 18:25 CET

EU Assistance is available in all EU candidate states and potential candidates for membership. The assistance of the EU in Albania include activities in the following areas: Strengthening of public administration and judiciary, Police and public order, Customs, and Development of infrastructure, etc.

Albania: Economy Overview — 03 February 2010, 17:12 CET

Albania, a formerly closed, centrally-planned state, is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. Macroeconomic growth averaged around 6% between 2004-08, but declined to about 2% in 2009. Inflation is low and stable.

Starting a business in Albania — 02 February 2010, 22:09 CET

This World Bank site provides information about the procedures and costs associated with starting a business in Albania.

EU Delegation to Albania — 02 February 2010, 21:55 CET

Contacts of the European Delegation to Tirana.

Germany's restriction on Polish labour deemed discriminatory — 04 February 2010, 23:58 CET

Germany has infringed Community law by restricting to its own undertakings alone the possibility of entering into contracts with Polish undertakings in respect of work to be carried out within its territory, ruled the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Labelling the restrictions as discriminatory, the ECJ found that they could not be justified by any reasonable means.

Support to Enterprise Competitiveness and Export Promotion (SECEP) Project in Serbia — 28 January 2010, 22:29 CET

The Support to Enterprise Competitiveness and Export Promotion (SECEP) Project seeks to improve the competitiveness of Serbian SMEs through three closely interlinked but distinct components: cluster development (including cluster mapping and analysis), supply chain development and internationalisation - promoting Serbian Small and Medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and developing their ability to export.

EU Delegation to Serbia — 04 September 2012, 20:02 CET

Contacts of the European Delegation to Serbia.

Starting a business in Serbia — 28 January 2010, 21:36 CET

This World Bank site provides information about the procedures and costs associated with starting a business in Serbia.

Serbia Investment Climate 2009 — 28 January 2010, 22:30 CET

Serbia is open to foreign direct investment (FDI), and attracting FDI is increasingly a priority for the government of Serbia (GoS). Serbia has a long history of international commerce, even under communism, and it once attracted a sizeable foreign company presence.

Serbia: Economy Overview — 28 January 2010, 22:31 CET

Mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of international economic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left Serbia's economy only half the size it was in 1990.

Delegation of the European Commission to FYR of Macedonia — 26 January 2010, 23:05 CET

Contacts of the European Commission delegation in Skopje.

IPA Regional Development Operational Programme in the FYR of Macedonia — 27 January 2010, 00:05 CET

The overall objective of the "Regional Development" programme is to support the sustainable development of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, through the improvement of transport and environment infrastructure. To this end, the programme will implement three operational priorities and one technical assistance priority.

Starting a business in FYRM — 26 January 2010, 23:58 CET

This World Bank site provides information about the procedures and costs associated with starting a business in the FYR of Macedonia.

FYR of Macedonia Investment Climate — 27 January 2010, 00:57 CET

As a small, open economy, the FYR of Macedonia continues to take active steps to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). The country has enacted legislation that not only ensures an equal footing for foreign investors vis-à-vis their domestic counterparts, but also provides numerous incentives to attract such investment. Even before gaining full membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) in April 2003, Macedonia consistently provided national treatment to foreign investors. The country has concluded a number of bilateral investment protection treaties and other multilateral conventions that impose stricter protection standards for foreign investors.

Special Report No 16-2009 "The European Commission’s management of pre-accession assistance to Turkey" — 14 January 2010, 23:26 CET

In this report the European Court of Auditors analyses the Commission’s management of pre-accession financial assistance to Turkey. Particularly the first pre-accession assistance period 2002-2006 suffered from many weaknesses common to pre-accession programmes. The Commission had not set sufficiently specific objectives for its funding to allow assessment of the project outcomes and did not have sufficient information to demonstrate the effectiveness of its pre-accession assistance. However, the projects visited did deliver their intended outputs and the results of the projects are likely to be sustainable. While the Commission has already made some significant improvements, the Court makes several recommendations for further corrective measures. The most critical areas for improvement are the setting of strategic objectives for the financial assistance, the development of more realistic timescales for the objectives and the monitoring of actual project performance and results based on clear objectives and appropriate indicators.

Partnership with the Western Balkans — 10 December 2009, 15:45 CET

Within the framework of the stabilisation and association process with the countries of the Western Balkans, the European Union has set up partnerships with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, including Kosovo, as defined by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999.

Challenges of education and innovation (Berlin, from 13 January 2010, 00:00 CET to 14 January 2010, 00:00 CET) —

A conference on the 'Challenges of education and innovation' will take place on 13 and 14 January 2010 in Berlin, Germany.

Delegation of the European Commission to Croatia — 15 August 2012, 11:52 CET

Official website of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Croatia.

Starting a business in Croatia — 06 February 2010, 12:01 CET

This World Bank site provides information about the procedures and costs associated with starting a business in Croatia.

IPA: Regional Competitiveness Operational Programme in Croatia — 06 February 2010, 12:03 CET

The overall objective of the Regional Competitiveness Operational Programme is to achieve higher competitiveness and a balanced regional development by supporting small and medium enterprises' competitiveness, alongside with improving economic conditions in Croatia's lagging areas. IPA funds will therefore support business services rendered for micro and small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), strategic cooperation between companies, strengthening of entrepreneurial skills in the academia, promoting business and investment climate, developing business-related infrastructure.

Croatia Investment Climate 2009 — 06 February 2010, 12:03 CET

Croatia has enjoyed steady growth in foreign investment over the last several years, buoyed by a growing economy, low inflation, a stable exchange rate and developed infrastructure.

Representation of the European Commission in Malta — 06 February 2010, 12:03 CET

Contacts of the European Commission representation in Malta.

Malta: Economy Overview — 26 January 2010, 20:43 CET

Malta's economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing - especially electronics and pharmaceuticals - and tourism all of which have been negatively affected by the global economic downturn. Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008.