European Council

There are currently five major Balkan candidates for EU enlargement: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia and Turkey. While talks with Turkey have stuttered, the remaining countries could prove pivotal for the EU to continue its policy of enlargement of its union of democratic markets.

Three people were familiar with the situation who wanted to remain anonymous told this to Bloomberg, after conversations on that topic took place behind closed doors.

Donald Tusk's term as president of the European Council will end on 30 November, which is perfect timing for the Polish opposition.

After the parliamentary election in late October, Poland will hold its presidential election in April 2020, and opposition voters already see Tusk as the only viable candidate.

The National Liberal Party (PNL) is fighting for the European destiny of Romania in the May 26 election to the European Parliament, says PNL national leader Ludovic Orban, who argues that the political forces with Eurosceptic tendencies have to be diminished.

Michel Barnier, the European Union's chief negotiator for Brexit, reiterated on Monday EU readiness to respond accordingly in case Turkey carries out illegal hydrocarbon drilling activities, noting that the EU stands clearly behind Cyprus.

"If you count the total number of PiS voters, there might not be that many but they do show up to vote," said Bartek Lech, an independent EU affairs analyst in Szczecin, northwest Poland.

The opposition's strategy, he said, "is not to take votes away from PiS - this is almost impossible. It is to mobilise the undecided and those who otherwise would not vote."

In Brussels on Monday, Romania's President Klaus Iohannis attended a meeting with representatives of the Eastern Partnership member states, advocating for strengthening this organisation.

National Liberal Party (PNL) leader Ludovic Orban said Monday, referring to the letter from the First Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, that there is a major risk that Romania will be suspended from voting in the European Council, pointing out that the Social Democratic Party (PSD, major at rule, ed.n) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE, minor at rule, e

Senior official for defence policy, planning and international affairs with Romania's Defence Ministry (MApN) Nicolae Nasta will be attending, 13 - 14 May, along with defence and foreign ministers of the EU member states, a Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting and a meeting of European Defense Agency's (EDA) Steering Committee in the format of defence ministers to be held in Brussels.

European Council President Donald Tusk said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper "Vanguardia" that it is still probable between 20 and 30 percent that Brexit will be suspended.

"Today, our chance to have no Brexit is from 20 to 30 percent, and that's not a small," says Tusk.