Earth

The official news regarding Greece’s present fiscal state of affairs appears to be very good indeed and is paving the way for serious negotiations with the country’s creditors and partners regarding the sovereign debt issue.

Incumbent president has big lead in Macedonian election

SKOPJE -- Incumbent President Gjorge Ivanov of the ruling VMRO-DPMNE leads in the Macedonian presidential election, having won 428,000 votes on Sunday.

89 percent of ballots were counted when this figure was announced in Skopje.

BELGRADE - The New Democratic Party (NDS) led by Boris Tadic has announced that it will not be part of a government to which the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) would also be invited.

With an eye on the EU, Serbia reforming its schools

The European Commission is urging Serbia to harmonise its labour market and education system to ensure that citizens will be able to find jobs.

Serbia’s education system will be reformed to meet EU standards. [AFP]

Grigor Gogov, head of the Executive Forests Agency, has informed that Bulgaria plans to restrict its wood exports.

In a Sunday interview for the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), Gogov noted that the efforts of the Executive Forests Agency over the next few years would focus on afforestation.

SID - Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic stated on Saturday that Serbia will not join sanctions against the Russian Federation.

“We will probably be exposed to pressures, but we will not spoil relations with Russia,” Dacic told reporters after a ceremony marking the 69th anniversary of the Syrmian Front and the end of the fight for Serbia's liberation in WWII.

Anna Yaneva, Bulgaria's Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy, has announced that the draft 2014-2015 reindustrialization action plan has been completed.

"Management of economy needs fundamental change"

BELGRADE -- Serbia faces key reforms that are important for the future of the accession talks with the EU, EU Delegation head Michael Davenport said on Friday.

He stressed that the next government was expected to conduct the reforms efficiently.

BELGRADE - The National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) will get actively engaged in Serbia's EU membership talks by supervising the adjustments in the Serbian laws to the European legislature and will regularly prepare the information for the European Commission report.

Serbia to focus on eliminating tax evasion, grey economy

The Serbian government plans to crack down on the grey economy and tax evasion in hopes of obtaining funds for the impoverished state budget.

The new Serbian cabinet, which is expected to be led by Aleksandar Vucic, is expected to focus on the economy. [AFP]