EU to allot another EUR 3 billion to Turkey under migrant deal

The European Commission announced that it will grant EUR 3 billion to Turkey as part of the deal between the EU and Turkey signed in March 2016 aimed at curbing the flow of migrants to Europe. The deal included a EUR 6 billion package to help Turkey care for millions of migrants hosted in this country. Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said that the European Union already allocated EUR 3 billion under the first tranche and added that the distribution of the money as in the first tranche, which was made up of EUR 1 billion from the EU budget and EUR 2 billion from member states’ contributions, would be reasonable. According to the deal, all new illegal migrants crossing from Turkey into Greek islands must be returned to Turkey.

Bulgarian Red Cross and Turkish Red Crescent establish emergency material depot

The Turkish Red Crescent sent to the Bulgarian Red Cross six TIR trucks loaded with materials for the emergency material depot in the village of Dolni Lozen, Sofia district. The delivery consists of 500 tents, 4,080 blankets, 1,500 cots, 500 kitchen facilities and 500 heating stoves for a total of 2,500 people. The Turkish Red Crescent is yet to send 500 hygiene kits. The depot was established thanks to the joint efforts of the Bulgarian Red Cross and the Turkish Red Crescent through a contract signed in 2016. Its purpose is to maintain a reserve for emergency aid during calamities and crises in Bulgaria and in other Balkan countries. When such situations emerge in the region the Bulgarian Red Cross will serve as a distribution center.

Macedonian National Assembly adopts Law on Languages

The Macedonian National Assembly passed a law on extending the official use of the Albanian language despite the protests of the opposition. Sixty four MPs voted in favor and no MPs voted against or abstained. The Parliament security prevented a clash between the MP from VMRO-DMPNE party and former Premier Nikola Gruevski and the President of Macedonia’s National Assembly Talat Xhaferi. According to VMRO-DMPNE, the law contradicts the country’s constitution. The language issues were managed until now by the Ohrid Agreement according to which, the Albanian language had a status of official language in municipalities where it is spoken by with at least 20% of the inhabitants. According to some estimates, the number of the ethnic Albanians in Macedonia amounts to nearly one-fourth of the total population which amounts to 2.1 million people.

However it became clear that George Ivanov refuses to sign the law, quoting the arguments of the opposition that it has been voted against the constitution and through violations of the procedure.

Serbia marks 15 years since assassination of former Premier Zoran Đinđić

On March 12 Serbia marked 15 years since the assassination of the former Premier and leader of the Democratic Party Zoran Đinđić. He was shot dead in 2003 by a sniper in front of the Ministerial Council building downtown Belgrade. After the assassination the Serbian authorities announced that the assassins belonged to the so called Zemun Clan.

Five consortiums ready to invest over EUR 1 billion in cultivating medical marijuana in Greece

Canadian pharmaceutical companies are planning to invest in cultivating medical cannabis in Greece. Last week the Greek National Assembly legalized medical cannabis cultivation, Capital daily announced. According to the Greek Kathimerini newspaper, five consortiums are ready to invest over EUR 1 billion in cultivating medical marijuana in this country.

Over 34,000 Albanian tourists visit Bulgaria in 2017

In 2017 over 34,000 Albanian tourists visited Bulgaria, ranking that country 27th in terms of foreign tourist number. The information was announced at a meeting between Bulgaria’s Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova and Albania’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Qirjako Kureta. Minister Angelkova and Ambassador Kureta discussed possibilities of expanding cooperation in tourism. The two agreed that the possibilities were much greater, because the Bulgarian and the Albanian people are yet to get familiar with each country’s history, culture and tourism potential.

Ivan Vazov National Theater and five national theaters of Balkan countries establish Association of Balkan National Theaters

The National Theater Ivan Vazov and five national theaters of Balkan countries established an Association of the Balkan National Theaters. The memorandum was signed by Director of Ivan Vazov National Theater Marius Donkin and representatives of the National Theaters in Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Slovenia and Romania. The new association will have the task to unite the efforts and the good practices of the Balkan national theaters, Turkey, Serbia and Greece also decided to join the association.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov