Slovenia

The leaders of nine southern European Union countries and Jordan are meeting in Cyprus on Friday to come up with ways to de-escalate the crisis in the Middle East that is threatening to engulf Lebanon and trigger a wider humanitarian crisis.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism about the possibility of peace in Ukraine, suggesting that steps could be taken to end the conflict by 2025. Speaking at the Ukraine-Southeast Europe meeting in Dubrovnik, Croatia, he stated that the current battlefield situation provides a "chance" for progress.

Even if the European Central Bank reduces interest rates twice in 2024, they will still not drop below 3%, Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras told the Financial Times in an interview published on Wednesday.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias joined regional counterparts in Venice for the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative (ADRION) summit.

The Eurozone economy is showing weaker performance than anticipated, prompting the European Central Bank (ECB) to assess its impact on consumer prices at its upcoming meeting, according to ECB Executive Board member Frank Elderson.

The European Commission has urged Greece to properly transpose European Union regulations regarding the presumption of innocence and the right to be present at trial.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke with Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar on Thursday about an October 7-8 meeting of Brdo-Brijuni Process leaders in Tivat.

"I thanked Slovenia for supporting Serbia on the EU path and expressed the hope the Union will send clear messages regarding the enlargement policy," Vucic wrote in an Instagram post.

Citizens of Greece and three other EU countries will enjoy visa-free travel to China starting October 15.

This is a pilot program lasting until December 31, 2025, and applies to visits of two weeks maximum, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Monday.

Visa-free travel is also available to citizens of Cyprus, Portugal and Slovenia.

Greek tourists and business travelers visiting China for short stays will no longer need a visa beginning October 15.

The exemption applies to citizens of Greece, Portugal, Cyprus and Slovenia and will remain in effect until December 31, 2025, according to China's state-run television network CGTN.

Bulgaria is projected to experience a significant decrease in its labor force over the next decade, with estimates suggesting a reduction of more than 400,000 individuals. This decline is occurring amid rising labor costs, where Bulgaria ranks second in the European Union.