News archive of October 2014

Romania's Social Democrat Prime Minister Victor Ponta leads in opinion polls ahead of the first round of presidential elections on November 2.

According to a CSCI poll conducted from October 27 to October 29,the 42-year-old prime minister is expected to garner 40% support, while his main opponent, Liberal Party head Klaus Iohannis, will get 29%.

The construction of the two new bridges Silistra - Calarasi and Nikopol - Turnu Magurele will start by 2017, according to Bulgaria's caretaker Transport Minister Nikolina Angelkova.

Angelkova explained Friday that the deadlines had been included in the bilateral memorandum on building two new bridges over the Danube.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta, the presidential candidate of PSD-UNPR-PC (the Social Democratic Party, the National Union for Romania's Progress, the Conservative Party) said on Friday that the main foreign policy objective he has in view as head of state is to strengthen Romania's importance in the partnership with the U.S. through the role Bucharest plays in the regional policy.

BRATISLAVA - Full membership in the EU is the key foreign policy priority for Serbia, and the vision of a common European future is a vision shared by all of us in the Western Balkans, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Friday.

Gianni Pittella, president of the Socialists and Democrats group (S&D) at the European Parliament, has urged the Turkish government to allow fighters from the People’s Protection Units (YPG) to use Turkish territory to cross into Kobane.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is planning to take new steps embrace Turkey’s Alevi citizens, with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu also announcing that he will visit Hacıbektaş in the upcoming days within the holy month of Muharrem.

BELGRADE - Michel Davenport, head of the EU delegation in Serbia, expressed belief on Friday that the new composition of the European Commission will result in intensification of relations and acceleration of the European integration process.

The Cypriot supreme court ruled as unconstitutional Friday four bills on bank foreclosures whose passage by parliament prompted international lenders to halt payments on the country’s 10-billion-euro ($12.7-billion) bailout.

The decision should open the way for Nicosia to receive the next tranche of 436 million euros, which was blocked last month.

Reports: RPGs used in attack on government HQ

SKOPJE -- Two projectiles that hit the government building in Skopje earlier this week were likely fired from an RPG launcher, the local media said citing expert sources.

Germany has introduced a road toll which requires foreign car drivers to pay up to EUR 130 a year for using the country's motorways.

The new fee, which will is scheduled to take effect in 2016, aims to secure funds for the maintenance of transport infrastructure, according to reports of EurActiv.