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brussels-warns-montenegro-to-accelerate-reforms
16 May 13

Brussels Warns Montenegro To Accelerate Reforms

European Union Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule has urged Montenegro to adopt constitutional changes to increase judicial independence and to tackle its numerous political challenges.

serbia-s-eu-progress-depends-on-fate-of-bulgarian-minority
15 May 13

Serbia’s EU Progress Linked to Bulgarian Minority Rights

A senior official from Sofia has warned Belgrade that further progress towards the EU could depend on the status and rights of the Bulgarian minority in Serbia.

croatia-will-not-opt-for-euro-before-it-is-ready-deputy-pm-says
14 May 13

Croatia to Stay Cautious on Adopting Euro

Croatia's deputy prime minister said the country will keep its national currency, the kuna, and not opt for the euro until it has a sufficiently competitive economy.

german-social-democrats-support-granting-serbia-eu-start-date
13 May 13

German MEP Backs Serbia EU Start Date

A German member of the European Parliament has called on EU to grant Serbia a date for the start of EU accession talks. 

croatia-to-sign-new-contracts-on-border-regime-with-neighbours
11 May 13

Croatia Readies Border Contracts With Neighbours

Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia are due to agree new bilateral border agreements with Croatia as the country prepares to join the EU on July 1.

kosovo-celebrates-remaining-last-in-the-eu-integration
10 May 13

Kosovo Celebrates Europe Day From Afar

Kosovo marked Europe Day on May 9 with a public holiday, which is ironic, given that membership of the European Union remains only a distant prospect.

post-election-crisis-hampers-montenegro-s-constitutional-changes
08 May 13

Montenegro Political Crisis Slows Crucial Reforms

Work on constitutional changes intended to increase judicial independence and bring EU accession closer is being hampered by post-election disputes, a top lawmaker said.

croatia-to-give-up-famed-wine-to-join-eu
08 May 13

EU Tells Croatia to Abandon Famed Prosek Wine

Croatian vintners will no longer be able to market "Prosek" wine because the EU says the word is too similar to the Italian word “Prosecco”.

croatia-opens-two-new-border-crossings-with-bosnia
02 May 13

Croatia Opens New Border Crossings With Bosnia

Two new border crossings between Croatia and Bosnia will ease traffic between the two neighbouring countries as well as meeting EU standards.

croatia-invites-nikolic-to-eu-celebration
29 Apr 13

Croatia Invites Serbia's Leaders to EU Party

Serbia's President and Prime Minister are among the regional leaders that Croatia has invited to an EU accession celebration on June 30, the Croatian foreign ministry said.

croatia-changes-customs-service-before-joining-eu
25 Apr 13

Croatia Shakes up Customs Before EU Entry

As Croatia readies to become the 28th EU member state in July, the customs service faces major changes.

eu-officials-welcome-brussels-report-on-serbia
23 Apr 13

European Leaders Greet EU's Green Light to Serbia

European officials have welcomed the recommendations of the Commission to grant Serbia a start date for accession talks, following conclusion of a landmark deal with Kosovo.

eu-recommends-date-for-accession-talks-with-serbia
22 Apr 13

EU Recommends Membership Talks For Serbia

Following the breakthrough deal between Belgrade and Pristina, the European Commission has recommended that Serbia should be granted a start date for EU accession talks.

opposition-to-protest-in-belgrade-over-kosovo-deal
22 Apr 13

Opposition Protest in Belgrade over Kosovo Deal

As the government has approved the Belgrade-Pristina agreement on Monday, the nationalist opposition Democratic Party of Serbia holds a protest.

500-serbs-lose-job-every-day
19 Apr 13

Unemployment Rises Daily in Serbia

New figures show that 500 working-age Serbians are laid off every day - and one economist says the situation will only improve if Serbia continues on its EU path.

In-Depth

16 May 13

Boosting the Balkans’ Progress Towards the EU

Ten years after the Thessaloniki summit, the EU enlargement process for the western Balkans needs an injection of new energy.

29 Apr 13

Croatia’s EU Benefits Tempt Bosnian Youth

Young Bosnians with Croatian passports will have new opportunities to work in Europe after Croatia joins the EU in July - but some regard this privilege with mixed feelings.

16 Apr 13

Serbia Mulls Economic Cost of Losing EU Talks Date

Belgrade’s failure to obtain a start date for EU membership talks in June will not cause immediate damage to the economy, but the long-term implication are worrying, experts say.

09 Apr 13

Brussels Should Not Reward Serbia With Membership Talks

Europe should not offer Belgrade a start date for talks until it offers its own minorities the same privileges it demands for the Serbs in Kosovo.

03 Apr 13

Far Right Rears its Head Again in Croatia

The recent revival of hate speech, mainly targeting Serbs, presents an unwelcome challenge for the government - and for the country as it prepares to join the EU.

01 Apr 13

Spring Could Prove Fateful for EU Balkan Enlargement

Three upcoming reports will help determine the EU prospects of Kosovo, Serbia and Macedonia; of the three, the latter is causing by far the most concern.

22 Mar 13

Serbia Eyes Germany With Fear and Hope

In the run-up to a crucial EU decision on opening membership talks with Belgrade, Serbs are unclear which way Berlin will jump.

12 Mar 13

Britain’s Mindless New ‘Bulgarian Agitation’

The media campaign against Bulgarian and Romanian immigrants plumbs new depths each week. Who would have guessed this country once put Bulgaria on a pedestal?

05 Mar 13

Balkan Migrants – Social Problem or Straw Man for Germany?

Reports about the number of impoverished migrants from Bulgaria and Romania are alarming Germany - but how accurate are these claims?

08 Feb 13

The Balkans Face Unique Challenges in Europe

Questions of democratic development are more complex in the Western Balkans than elsewhere in Eastern Europe.