Latest News from Macedonia
EU Needs Western Balkans, Summit Leaders Say
A summit of regional leaders on Monday in Montenegro heard that the EU project is incomplete without the Western Balkans.
The EU accession process is not a technical but a political issue in which the specificities of each country must also be taken into account, it was further concluded.
Bulgaria's 3 Border Patrol Helicopters Grounded over Lack of Insurance
The three Augusta helicopters that are supposed to be patrolling Bulgaria's borders with Serbia, Macedonia, and Turkey have been grounded at the airport in Bezmer due to the lack of aviation insurance.
In November 2014 Bulgaria's Border Police unit launched a public procurement procedure for the insurance of the three helicopters, according to reports of Pressa daily.
Tourism industry loses momentum
By Stathis Kousounis
The prolonged uncertainty regarding the Greek economy, which is not seen disappearing before Athens reaches an agreement with the country?s creditors, is taking its toll on the short-term prospects of Greek tourism, according to the sector?s professionals.
EU Expects Macedonia's Political Leaders to Take Part in Wednesday's Talks in Brussels
The European Commission has said it is expecting the leaders of Macedonia's largest political parties to take part in Wednesday's meeting in Brussels with Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn.
Macedonia Govt 'Put NGOs Under Surveillance'
Top activists from leading NGOs like the Macedonian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Transparency - Macedonia, the Open Society Foundation - Macedonia, CIVIL - Centre for Freedom and the Metamorphosis foundation have been tapped for years, the opposition Social Democrats' leader Zoran Zaev alleged at a press conference on Monday.
Macedonia Probes Migrant Kidnapping Claims
Police said they had launched a probe after Britain's Channel 4 News programme broadcast a report about hundreds of migrants from countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen being held for ransom by gangs in at least one Macedonian village, alleging that local police has been colluding with their captors.
Macedonia Opposition to Attend Brussels Crisis Talks
Opposition Social Democrats leader Zaev said on Sunday that he has changed his mind about not going to an all-important crucial meeting in Brussels this Wednesday aimed at defusing the country's political crisis.
President: Serbia ready to respond to threats
President Tomislav Nikolic says the neighboring Macedonia "must confront the security challenges," adding that Serbia was "ready to respond to any threat."
Nikolic is in Budva, Montenegro, this Monday, where he made the comments as he spoke with Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov. They met ahead of the "Brdo-Brioni Process" summit.
Macedonia Opposition Leader Cancels Brussels Meeting
Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev announced on Friday that, following comments by Commissioner Hahn in Washington about previous elections in Macedonia, the opposition party will not attend talks in Brussels set for June 10.
He especially criticised Hahn's comments about "the generally positive reports of the monitoring mission of OSCE/ODIHR" concerning elections held in Macedonia.
Balkan Governments Urged to Commit to Climate Targets
On World Climate Day on Friday, the SEE SEP network of CSOs from South East Europe, called on the governments of the region to act promptly and put forward ambitious commitments for the upcoming global climate agreement in Paris.
Illegal migrants abused in Macedonia - reports
Human rights organizations are saying that Macedonia is "one of the worst countries in Europe for migrants," BBC reported.
According to Doctors Without Borders, at least 300 persons died on their way from Greece to Macedonia, in a bid to reach Northern and Western Europe.
Anti-Gruevski Protests Resume in Macedonia
An umbrella movement called "Protestiram" ["I protest"] renewed daily protest marches on Friday, one month after the police crackdown on protesters in front of the government building.
On May 5, riot police used force to disperse an anti-government protest that saw thousands of people demanding Prime Minister's Gruevski's immediate resignation.
Athens, Skopje to work on improving trust
A Greek Foreign Ministry official will travel to Skopje in the next few days to discuss confidence-building measures with the government in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias revealed on Thursday.
Turkey welcomes Macedonia's early election decision
Turkey June 4 welcomed Macedonia?s decision to hold elections in order to contain a political crisis enveloping the country.
Political leaders in the former Yugoslav republic announced June 2 a fresh election in April 2016 to resolve a crisis sparked by a wiretapping scandal that has allegedly revealed high-level government corruption.
Macedonia's Gruevski Vows to Win Early Elections
Prime Minister Gruevski said that at Tuesday's marathon talks in Skopje mediated by EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, he accepted snap polls in order "to end the agony in which the opposition has put Macedonia".