Greece paralyzed by general strike

A nationwide strike has paralyzed Greece with public transport services disrupted and ships and ferries docked for 24 hours. Teachers, medics, bank staff and journalists are also protesting. The protests coincide with a bill being debated in parliament on privatization of public transport and changes in labor laws.

Romanian's Laura Kövesi candidacy for EU Attorney General approved

The Permanent Representatives of the EU Member States have approved the candidature of Romanian magistrate Laura Kövesi for Attorney General of the European Union. Out of 22 votes possible (not all EU Member States are involved in the creation of the European Attorney General's Office) Kövesi received 17 votes of support. Before that the European Parliament had also given its approval. Kövesi could take the position after the end of interinstitutional negotiations. The election of Laura Kövesi as EU Attorney General has triggered a political storm in Romania. Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă has opposed the election and instructed Romania's ambassador to the EU, Luminita Odobescu to vote against. According to diplomatic sources, however, she did not receive written instructions and voted in favor of Kövesi and is now risking losing her position. While heading Romania's National Anticorruption Directorate, Laura Kövesi sent dozens of government officials to jail, winning Brussels' approval, but in Romania she was suspected of sacrificing innocent people because of her international career plans.

Erdogan discussed threat of new migrant wave with Putin and Rouhani

The presidents of Turkey, Russia and Iran have discussed in Ankara the future of Syria. This has been the fifth meeting in this format, seeking a solution to the Syrian crisis. President Recep Erdogan, President Vladimir Putin and President Hasan Rouhani agreed on the idea of ​​preserving Syria's territorial integrity. The three were firm that joint military actions east of the Euphrates River would continue. "We will not stop until all the rebel groups have been eliminated," Erdogan said. The three leaders also discussed the threat of a new migrant wave. More than 3.6 million refugees have already sought asylum in Turkey. Ankara has repeatedly warned that it could not cope with bigger influx and does not rule out ‘opening the doors to Europe’.

Albania struck by 5.8 magnitude earthquake

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale left more than 100 people injured in the Albanian capital city of Tirana and the neighboring port city of Durres, with hundreds of buildings damaged. The earthquake, registered on September 21, was followed by a series of secondary tremors. Authorities have provided tents to citizens who are unable or afraid to go home. The European Union has offered assistance to Albania in dealing with the damages.

MEPs to help with mediation in resolving Serbian parliament crisis

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Representatives of the European Parliament will try to help in restoring the dialogue in the Serbian parliament, which has been boycotted by the opposition for months. The first meeting of this kind between MEPs and Serbian MPs will be held in Belgrade in early October, half a year before the country's scheduled parliamentary elections. The involvement of MEPs in the process of resuming the dialogue between Serbian parliamentary parties is welcome, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Maja Gojkovic told EP Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, David McAllister.

Author: Miglena Ivanova

English: Alexander Markov