EurActiv

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has warned the United States that there would be "war in the Balkans" if the EU collapses.

The website euractiv.com is reporting this, citing Juncker's exclusive interview to the Financial Times during which he revealed details of his conversation with US Vice President Mike Pence, that took place in Brussels on February 20.

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Serbia can expect the green light for opening at least one chapter in its EU accession negotiations next week, Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said during his visit to Belgrade on 5 December. EurActiv Serbia reports.

Serbia expects the opening of chapters 5 - Public Procurement, 25 - Science and Research and 26 - Education and Culture.

BELGRADE - Serbia has been struggling for six years to put in place a law on free legal aid, which is one of the requirements for progress in its EU accession negotiations. The law will be adopted by the end of 2016 and implemented in 2018, the justice ministry told EurActiv Serbia.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for policies to foster growth as he prepared to host a summit of southern European states on Friday, saying they needed to have a bigger say in the future of Europe.

BELGRADE - EU countries cannot imprison illegal migrants just for crossing borders inside the passport-free Schengen area, the bloc's top court ruled Tuesday, in a new blow to efforts to crack down on the migration crisis.

A Swedish court has sentenced two Bulgarian brothers to jail terms for running a begging scheme that involved exploitation of disabled and illiterate people, AFP reported on Friday.

The two brothers, aged 39 and 42, were convicted for human trafficking and were sentenced to three and three-and-a-half years in prison, respectively.

According to Rados Djurovic, it is possible that some of Syria trust fund money will be used to keep a number of migrants in Serbia and Macedonia.

The European Commission views Greece’s new media law “in a positive light” says a news report by Euractiv. The report explores hte controversy surrounding the new law on granting television channels licences in Greece. Opposition parties are suspicious of the government’s move.

Italy, France and Germany signed on Monday an agreement to jointly develop a European drone program.

Defense Ministers of all three EU member states took part in the ceremony marking the beginning of a project which was first proposed in 2013.

The European Union has announced it will open two new chapters to the present volume of negotiation texts it has offered to Montenegro.

A European Council statement cited by EurActiv says taxation and external affairs are the two issues to be included in the talks upon the agreement of both Brussels and Podgorica, thus having 18 out of 35 chapters opened.