EC plans to speed up Western Balkans EU accession

Referring to information from a leaked report of the European Commission, Die Welt reports that the Commission plans to speed up EU accession of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo with the motivation that accession of the countries from the Western Balkans corresponds to the political and economic interests of EU. According to Commission’s representatives, Serbia and Montenegro will join the bloc by 2025. The EC however thinks that it is necessary first to conclude a legally binding agreement for the normalizations of relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

Montenegro wants Kosovo to join EU, NATO

In an interview for the Kosovo television RTK ahead of his visit to Pristina on 6 February, Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said that Montenegro wanted to see Kosovo in the European Union and NATO. Markovic noted that because of various circumstances in the past the countries in the Western Balkans have missed the chance of integration with EU and should now ask the Union to articulate clearly their perspectives.

Athens rally against Macedonia fails to attract expected support

The nationalist rally in Athens on Sunday organized by far-right Greek politicians and parties demanded „a common border with Serbia“, economic choking of the Republic of Macedonia and non-use of the term “Macedonia” in the future name of that state. In a declaration following the rally the ruling party SYRIZA said that expectations for millions in turnout at the rally had not been fulfilled and most Greeks stayed at home because they believe that political problems cannot be solved with fanaticism and intolerance. "Peaceful coexistence of people, security and stability in the Balkans provide the best of guarantees of national interests”, the declaration also reads.

Cyprus president reelected

At the runoff of the presidential elections in Cyprus incumbent president Nicos Anastasiades was reelected for a new term by claiming 55.99 percent of the vote. For decades Anastasiades has been a foremost figure on the Cypriot political scene. Leader of the second strongest political party in that country, the Democratic Rally, he served as Member of Parliament from 1981 till 2013. It is believed that his conservative stance directed to businesses, has helped the economy’s recovery in the aftermath of the 2013 economic crisis.

Erdogan rejects proposal for partnership with EU

In an interview for the Italian La Stampa newspaper shortly before his visit to Rome, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected the proposal for partnership of EU and Turkey and insisted on full membership. The president has again pointed to the “important” role of that country for curbing the migration flow to Europe which guarantees “security and stability” on the continent. Turkey’s ambitions to join EU date back to half a century ago but accession negotiations opened in November 2005. From the total of 35 chapters which should be closed so that Turkey could join EU, sixteen have been opened and only one has been closed.

Compiled by Stoimen Pavlov

English Daniela Konstantinova