Thousands on protest in Bucharest

Several thousand trade union representatives from various professional fields met for protests downtown Bucharest against government plans to transfer social security contributions from employers to employees. The protest was organized at Victory Square outside government offices. A delegation of protesters was received for talks on the premises of the government. After the meeting Prime Minister Mihai Tudose stated that the government would not give up the transfer of social security payments to employees but would look for a solution together with the trade unions aimed to satisfy all sides.

Hungary keen to assist Rumania in eastern border protection against migrants

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in Budapest that he would prefer to assist Romania for the protection of its eastern border in stopping the migration flow instead of building a fence along the Romania-Hungary border. He pointed out that sooner or later effective protection of the eastern border would become a must. Otherwise it will be overwhelmed by migrants.

Serbian president declares support for Spanish government regarding Catalonia

Belgrade is going to urge the European Union to revise its decision for the recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, because Catalonia is an apparent example that EU did err with Kosovo, Belgrade newspaper Vecherne Novosti writes. At a meeting at Euxinograd Residence near the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Varna, of the prime ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, Boyko Borissov, Mihai Tudose and Alexis Tsipras, and of the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian president made a statement about the EU double standard regarding the independence referendum in Catalonia and the unilateral proclamation of the independence of Kosovo in 2008. Vucic was explicit in his support for the Spanish government.

Turkey plans to step up measures against Iraqi Kurdistan

At a press conference in Tehran, Turkish President Recep Erdogan has vowed to step up measures against the administration of Iraqi Kurdistan in connection with the referendum for independence in that autonomous region. Following a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Turkey and Iran would not allow the violation of the territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria.

Albanian parliament debates demand for recognition of Bulgarian minority in Albania

Bulgaria’s demand for the recognition of the Bulgarian minority in Albania was discussed in the Albanian parliament. This took place at public debates on the bill for protection of minorities in that country. Bulgaria’s request has met with opposition from the Macedonians - one of the minorities that have been officially recognized. "There is no Bulgarian minority in Albania," said Vasil Sterjovski, a representative of the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration. Albanian Foreign Minister Dmitry Bushati also opposed the proposal to recognize the Bulgarian minority in Albania.

Zoran Zaev begins to remove monuments of Skopje 2014 project from city center

The new Macedonian government has undertaken the removal of some of the monuments from the so-called Skopje 2014 project. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev specified that a thorough inspection of work on the project would begin. Skopje 2014 was launched by former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, and changed completely the center of the capital, dotting it with monuments of heroes from the Classical Antiquity. Along with the placement of these monuments, Gruevski's regime began to propagate strongly the Antiquity roots of the local population.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova

English Daniela Konstantinova