Greek authorities impose curfew in new areas in Northern Greece

The Greek authorities have imposed a nighttime curfew in new areas in Northern Greece due to the increase of the number of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations. All movement in the curfewed areas of Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Kilkis and Larissa is banned between 01.00 am and 06.00 am. The authorities also banned music in the entertainment facilities. According to doctors, the wide spread of Covid-19 in this country is due to not wearing masks and the lack of physical distance. The number of people inoculated against Covid-19 in the northern parts of the country is lower as compared to other regions. In the past two weeks, the same restrictions have been in force in Xanthi, Kavala and Drama located near the Bulgaria-Greece border. However, entry requirements have not changed, announced the correspondent of the Bulgarian National Radio in Greece Katya Peeva.

Census in North Macedonia has been successful

The Republic of North Macedonia held the first census in 20 years. According to raw data, a total of 1,832,696 people live in this country. 204,805 nationals of North Macedonia were registered abroad, announced Apostol Simovski, Director of the State Statistical Office. “The census was successful”, Apostol Simovski said. The number of people who refused to take part in the census is very low. There are 568,175 households and 837,255 homes in North Macedonia. The official results of the census will be announced in six months, the Macedonian Information Agency announced.

Edi Rama: Albania’s EU accession bid is being held hostage

Albania’s Premier Edi Rama complained about the delay in the launch of the EU accession negotiations with his country, noting that Bulgaria’s veto was holding the entire process hostage. Edi Rama spoke at a press conference after the meeting with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Tirana. The negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania for accession to the European Union should begin by the end of 2021, said Ursula von der Leyen. The EU will continue to invest in the development of the Western Balkans, said Ursula von der Leyen and added that the EU is focused on mobilizing EUR 9 billion in projects and potentially raising investment to EUR 20 billion in 2021-2027 for the Western Balkans and the region’s 18 million people.

Stickers to resolve the border crisis between Serbia and Kosovo

Serbia and Kosovo have reached an agreement to deescalate tension on their border that has been triggered by a dispute over license plates. “We have a deal. After two days of intense negotiations, an agreement on de-escalation and the way forward has just been reached”, the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajčák announced. The draft document which awaits Serbia’s approval was prepared during indirect talks in Brussels, Albania’s oranews.tv announced. According to the proposal, the license plates will not be removed, but stickers will be affixed to them instead. The agreed three-point plan calls for the withdrawal of the Special Kosovo Police Unit from the border crossings, the deployment of the NATO-led peacekeeping mission (KFOR) to the border and the lifting of blockades along the border crossings.

PSD party files a no-confidence motion against Romania’s government over low vaccination rate

Romania’s largest opposition party (The Social Democratic Party) filed a no-confidence motion against the government headed by Florin Citu. PSD filed the no-confidence motion against the current cabinet, because in their words, Romaia is the country with one of Europe’s lowest vaccination rates, digi24ro television announced. Only a third of the country’s 19 million people are vaccinated, the second lowest after Bulgaria. The no-confidence motion will take place on October 4. Meanwhile, the European Commission has approved Romania’s Recovery and Resilience Plan estimated at EUR 29.2 billion. 41% of the funds have been earmarked for investments and environmental reforms and 21% of the EU money is earmarked for digitization.

EU wants to resume migration talks with Turkey

The EU-Turkey relations have been expanding and improving and now the dialogue on migration can resume, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said during her visit to Nicosia. Commissioner Johansson voiced hopes that she would find a common ground with Ankara during her visit to Turkey in mid-October to prevent illegal arrivals on migrants on the island. The Cypriot authorities have requested a gratuitous aid from the European Commission to the tune of EUR 35 million, to finish the construction of two migrant accommodation camps.

Compiled by: Ivo Ivanov

English version: Kostadin Atanasov