Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria's environment has deteriorated in terms of democracy and governance over the past year, lagging behind Romania and remaining last in the EU, an annual index comparing EU members and accession countries shows.

Bosnia recorded a reduction in its trade deficit - the gap between imports and exports - in 2015, generating hope that the country is becoming less dependent on imports.

A new report by the US-based watchdog Freedom House, published on Wednesday, raises fresh concerns about the state of the media in the Balkans.

The report says media freedom is declining in the Balkans generally, where the press is described as only as "Partly Free", while media in Macedonia are described as "Not Free".

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has taken to the pages of the London Times to tell squabbling UK politicians to leave Albania out of the acrimonious debate on Britain's EU membership.

Bulgaria's last event as head of the Southeastern European Cooperation Process has been scheduled for June 01, the Presidency has said.

The host, President Rosen Plevneliev, will prepared an Anniversary declaration that will mark 20 years since the forum was established as an in instrument of regional dialogue.

A total of 22 "unofficial" mosques operate beyond the control of Bosnia's official Islamic Community, the IZ, some of which are reportedly connected to the radicalisation of Bosnian Muslims and their conversion to the cause of Islamic jihad.

Voters in Serbia on Sunday choose new national and provincial parliaments as well as the largest number of local asemblies.

In the parliamentary elections, 20 political lists with a total of 3,270 candidates will be competing for 250 seats.

Some 15 election lists are taking part in the race for 120 seats in the assembly of the autonomous northern province of Vojvodina.

BELGRADE - US Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan is in Bosnia on an unannounced visit for talks with officials, the Web news publication Balkan Insight reported Friday.

The CIA director arrived from Saudi Arabia, where he met with senior officials from six Gulf Arab nations aimed at coordinating efforts in the conflicts in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, the report said.

VIENNA - Viennese companies are the biggest investors in the Western Balkan countries, Vienna Deputy Mayor Johann Gudenus has said, adding that the excellent economic ties must be encouraged in economically difficult times.

CIA chief John Brennan met Bosnian security officials on Friday to discuss security issues in the Balkan country, Dragan Lukac, head of the Federation entity's police directorate, said after the meeting.

Local experts said the visit was also an opportunity for Bosnia's security agencies and institutions to improve quality of their counter-terrorism activities.