European Union does not envisage opening new negotiating chapter with Turkey

The European Union rejected the possibility of opening a new negotiating chapter with Turkey. Turkey is an applicant country and a key partner of the EU, but the moment to open a new negotiating chapter has not come yet, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said. Our analysis shows that Turkey continues to take huge strides away from the EU, in particular in the areas of the rule of law and the fundamental rights, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said. The negotiations with Ankara started on October 3, 2005, but so far only 16 out of all 33 chapters have been opened.

Kosovo’s foreign policy is run by USA: Kosovo’s Premier Ramush Haradinaj

“Kosovo does not have a foreign policy and belongs to the club of countries led by the USA”, Kosovo’s Premier Ramush Haradinaj said. We are part of Europe and are cooperating with Brussels and Berlin. But when it comes to foreign policy, we are part of the club of countries led by the USA. It is not a problem for us to admit that. We do not have time to deal with the global problems, Premier Haradinaj said in a TV interview.

Early elections to be held in Turkey on June 24

Early elections will be held in Turkey on June 24, President Recep Erdogan announced. The decision was taken after consultations with the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahceli. Presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on that date. According to the initial plans, the elections had to be held on November 3, 2019. The forthcoming elections are of great importance, because most constitutional amendments giving more powers to the country’s head of state will be enforced. The amendments were adopted at the referendum in April 2017.

Newly arriving refugees and asylum seekers to be able to move freely in Greece

Refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Greece from Turkey by sea will be able to move freely in Greece while they are waiting for the results of their applications and will be no longer confined to the so-called hot spots, the Greek Council of State ruled. The decision was taken in response to a complaint filed by the Greek Council for Refugees which criticized the piling of refugees and asylum seekers at the islands near Turkey. Currently, there are nearly 15,000 refugees in this area. The decision has no retroactive effect and will apply only to new arrivals.

First lung transplantation in Romania was made at St. Maria hospital in Bucharest

The first lung transplantation in Romania was made on Wednesday (April 18) at St. Maria hospital in Bucharest. The surgery lasted for seven hours. The director of the Center for Lung Transplantation in Hannover (Germany) Doctor Igor Tudorake headed the team which did the transplantation. The patient feels well after the medical intervention.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov