Bulgaria and N. Macedonia at Loggerheads Again but Hope doesn't' Die

A no-confidence vote in the Romanian parliament overthrew the government of Prime Minister Florin Katsu, which took power in December 2020. The decision of the Social Democratic Party was supported by 281 MPs. The crisis in Romania began in September, when the coalition partner of the National Liberals - the USR-PLUS Alliance, stepped down from government. Katsu's government has been accused of impoverishing Romanians, increasing the country's debt and of a failed vaccination campaign. Just one third of the 19 million people in the country have been vaccinated, which is the second lowest level in the bloc after Bulgaria. Deutsche Welle recalls that 17 prime ministers and 13 governments have changed in Romania since 2012.

 The differences between Sofia and Skopje are not so great. It is quite possible to find a solution with Bulgaria by the end of December, as we have a responsibility for the future and should not stay in the past. This is what Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev said at a press conference after the EU-Western Balkans summit in Slovenia, BGNES reported. Zaev added that in talks with him and President Rumen Radev, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron were very specific and clear about their reasons for starting accession talks. At the forum, Merkel said that the Western Balkans belong to Europe and when the necessary conditions are provided, they would be able to join the EU. "Europe promises EU membership to the Balkans, but it is uncertain,"  German TV channel ZDF commented, referring to the simmering conflicts in this part of the continent and the lack of a common position in the EU.

 

 There are currently about 1,000 Afghan refugees in Albania, but up to 4,000 can be accepted. They...

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