Latest News from Montenegro
NATO Warships to Visit Montenegrin Port
Four ships under the command of Standing NATO Response Force Mine Countermeasure Group, SNMCMG-2, will visit the Montenegrin port of Bar on Friday, the Defence Ministry has announced.
Turkish crew stuck abroad with financial problems for three years
Turkish Iron Trader ship with ten crew members has not been able to return to Turkey for the last two years due to financial problems. Seven of the crew have left the ship, but the remaining three are still on board, off the coast of Brazil, asking for their unpaid fees.
Five Foreign Ministry officials resign to run in elections
Five officials from Turkey's Foreign Ministry resigned before an Aug. 31 deadline to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections on Nov. 1, ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said Sept. 2.
Europe to Fund Balkan Transport, Energy Projects
After the Western Balkans summit, which took place in Vienna on August 27, it has been announced that European institutions will grant around 200 million euro for 10 transport and energy infrastructure projects in six Western Balkans countries.
Vienna Summit Binds Balkan States to Broad Reforms
The six Balkan nations meeting in Vienna obliged themselves in the final declaration of the Western Balkans Summit, issued on Thursday, to refrain from "misusing outstanding issues in the EU accession process" and welcomed the EU pledge to support them in resolving bilateral disputes.
Refugee Crisis to Overshadow Balkan Summit
The refugee crisis threatens to effectively hijack a high-level conference on the economic prospects and European perspectives of the Western Balkan states that opens in Vienna on Thursday.
The summit includes senior politicians from the EU and the Balkans under the patronage of the German and Austrian chancellors, Angela Merkel and Werner Faymann.
EUR 222 million from EU funds for projects in Danube region
The EU will invest around EUR 222 million in 13 countries in the Danube region, including three non-members - Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
This was announced on Tuesday by the EU Info Center in Belgrade.
Montenegro to Save Precious Habitat for Birds
Montenegro's government and the public enterprise National Parks on Monday took over the bankrupt private salt company in the coastal town of Ulcinj in a move to save an important habitat for about 250 bird species that live and nest in the abandoned salt plantations.
Montenegro Lags in Giving Minorities State Jobs
Ethnic Montenegrins comprise 45 per cent of the country's citizens but hold just over 74 per cent of the jobs in the public administration, according to a new government study.
Ethnic Serbs make up 28 per cent of the population but have only 11 per cent of the jobs on the state payroll.
Turkey's banks need to prepare for slower lending growth: ECB paper
Turkey?s banking system needs to prepare for an end to rapid lending growth and faces some risk from rising external funding needs, while western Balkan banks may struggle with bad loans, an ECB paper says.
Montenegro Tightens Law on Seizing Criminals' Assets
Montenegrin Justice Minister Zoran Pazin on Thursday said the government had adopted a bill on forfeiture of criminal assets, which aims to tackle the economic power of those behind corruption and crime.
The asset forfeiture law allows the government to seize and keep cash, cars, real estate, and any other property through the so-called freezing procedure.
Asylum Claims from Balkans Surge in Germany
Germany faced another increase in the number of asylum requests from citizens of the six Western Balkans Countries in July, despite repeated efforts by German and local authorities to halt the phenomenon.
Montenegro Opposition Plans Wave of Protests
Montenegro's opposition Democratic Front is planning rallies across the country aimed at forcing out Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic - who has held power since 1991 - on September 27, it said.
Albania Police Uproot Cannabis Plantations in North
Albania's police launched yet another massive operation aiming to the curb the marijuana trade as the harvest season nears.
"We have engaged about 450 officers from the police and the Rapid Intervention Force for the operation carried in the Dukagjin area. We encountered no incidents," a police statement on Tuesday said.
Montenegro MPs to Debate NATO Membership
Montenegrin MPs are to debate a pro-NATO motion of the ruling coalition at an extraordinary session in September.
The resolution says NATO membership is in the interest not only of the state but of all citizens and is not the exclusive choice of "authorities or any party or [part of] the political or intellectual elite".