Brussels

Tensions with Ankara have resurfaced again after Ankara's objections to Greece's announcement to designate marine parks, including one in the Aegean Sea. 

Ankara's intransigent stance on issues related to the Aegean, as expressed by its ministries of foreign affairs and defense and the ruling AKP party, stem from its long-held theory of "gray zones" in the region.

BRUSSELS - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Thursday in Brussels Belgrade had done absolutely everything to find a solution in the wake of Pristina's unilateral and violent decision to ban the Serbian dinar and Serbian cash operations in Kosovo-Metohija but that Pristina wanted no solution to be found.

Ankara has criticized the European Union for linking Türkiye-EU ties to the Cyprus question, describing the move as another example of Brussels' lack of strategic vision on Türkiye and global developments.

BRUSSELS - Belgrade's delegation, headed by the director of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic and also comprised of financial experts, met with the EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak in Brussels on Thursday morning.

The meeting began shortly before 10 am, a Tanjug reporter said.

EU leaders on Wednesday weighed a response to suspicions of Russian meddling ahead of June elections in the bloc, with several states pushing for sanctions targeting "malign activities" by Moscow.

Brussels has issued escalating warnings about Russia sowing disinformation ahead of the polls, and seeking to weaken Western support for Ukraine as it fights off Moscow's invasion.

European leaders have reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to Ukraine, pledging urgent assistance to bolster the nation's defense capabilities. The assurances came during a high-level meeting in Brussels, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed European leaders via video link, highlighting the pressing need for enhanced security measures in the face of escalating tensions.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized the importance of addressing the crisis in the Middle East during his participation in the Special European Council taking place in Brussels from Wednesday to Thursday. 

Over the two-day summit, EU leaders discuss economy and competitiveness issues, Ukraine, Türkiye, the Middle East and Lebanon.

A scheduled conference of far-right European politicians, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and former British MEP Nigel Farage, was abruptly halted by police in Brussels. The intervention, ordered by one of the municipal mayors in the Belgian capital, sparked controversy and condemnation from various quarters.

In the wake of Iran's recent drone and missile assault on Israel, the European Union (EU) and the United States are gearing up to expand sanctions against Tehran. The move, driven by mounting concerns over Iran's aggressive military actions, marks a significant escalation in international pressure on the Iranian regime.

The Ministry of National Economy and Finance intends to display its confidence in fiscal stability and responsible fiscal policy, both with the initial scenario for the Stability Program that will be sent to Brussels by the end of April, and with the Midterm Fiscal Plan until September 20.