Brussels

Chapter 35 to be "among first to be opened"

BELGRADE -- Jadranka Joksimovic says Chapter 35 "would certainly be one of the first chapters to open in Serbia's EU accession talks."

This chapter, according to the Tanjug report, "covers the implementation of the Brussels agreement and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue."

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has extended an invitation Jean-Claude Juncker to visit Turkey, as he called to congratulate the EU chief over his "new" post after being elected head of the European Commission back in July.

BELGRADE - MEP Igor Soltes voiced confidence on Monday that the first chapters in Serbia's EU accession negotiations will be opened at the beginning of 2015.

Parties react to president's announced "Kosovo plan"

BELGRADE -- Serbia will next year, "along with implementing the Brussels agreement," present its proposal for Kosovo's final status, a Belgrade daily writes.

Speaker visits Moscow, reiterates policy on sanctions

MOSCOW -- Russia is "very grateful to Serbia for not succumbing to pressure from Brussels and Washington" when it comes to imposing sanctions against Russia.

This is what Russian State Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin told Serbian Assembly President Maja Gojkovic in Moscow on Monday.

Germany "not asking for recognition of Kosovo"

BELGRADE -- Germany is not requesting Serbia to recognize Kosovo to be able to start its EU accession talks, says German Ambassador to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm.

BELGRADE - Germany is not requesting Serbia to recognise Kosovo to be able to start its EU accession talks, says German Ambassador to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm.

EU will have a stance on Bulgaria's idea to build a gas hub at the Black Sea after a formal proposal has been prepared, EU Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva has said.

Bulgarian lawmakers have narrowly approved changes to the pension system comprising various aspects of pension insurance.

Legislative amendments were passed with the votes of the main ruling party Citizens for European Development in Bulgaria (GERB), the third-largest electoral force Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) and part of Bulgarian Democratic Center (BDC) MPs.

BELGRADE - Belgrade is ready for the continuation of the dialogue with Pristina, scheduled for early February in Brussels, the Serbian government said in a statement on Friday.