European Council

Region, Turkey optimistic about new EU leaders

EU approves new sanctions - but delays them

BRUSSELS -- Member states of the European Union have formally approved new sanctions Russia, but will delay their application.

This will be done in order to "give Moscow time to continue its peace efforts."

Semantics are crucial in the functioning of the European Union. I learned this in one of the EU summits in the mid-1990s, which were a source of tension between Greece and Turkey at the time.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta declared on Wednesday that Romania obtained after negotiations 'the most important portfolio possible' in the European Commission, namely regional development; he mentioned that when Commission President Jean Claude Juncker officially notifies him, he would make a nomination for this position, and the nominee would be 'also heard by the Romanian Parliam

By Hugo Dixon

BELGRADE - Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has congratulated Donald Tusk on becoming the president of the European Council and Federica Mogherini on being appointed the new Eu representative for foreign affairs and security policy.

BELGRADE - Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic welcomed on Monday Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini's appointment as the new EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk's appointment as the President of the European Council, stressing that both supported Serbia's EU integration.

BELGRADE - Serbia has launched developments in its sport system and it will draw on the experiences of EU countries on this path, Serbian Minister of Youth and Sports Vanja Udovicic said.

The EU has threatened to expand sanctions against Russia in a week unless it takes steps to alleviate tension in Ukraine.

The EU leaders have issued a joint statement demanding that Russia "immediately withdraw all its military assets and forces from Ukraine."

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has suggested that Bulgaria will be assigned a strong portfolio and will enjoy a much more vocal and dignified representation in the next European Commission.