European integration

"We're with EU on everything - except on Russia"

BELGRADE -- Ivica Dacic says that, when it comes to harmonizing the country's foreign policy with the EU, Serbia "supports everything except sanctions against Russia."

President Iohannis said on Saturday, at the reception given on Europe Day at the Cotroceni Palace, that Romania will soon be making strides to become a Schengen member.

Photo credit: (c) Razvan CHIRITA / AGERPRES PHOTO

Romania's Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu believes an ambitious strategy agenda is needed EU-wide that provides credible and sustainable answers to the current issues, pointing out that Romania remains an active promoter of the EU's neighbourhood policy.

Photo credit: (c) Ilie BUMBAC / AGERPRES PHOTO

BELGRADE - A three-day regional conference on the monitoring of EU guidelines for the support to civil society organizations (CSOs), which started in Belgrade on Tuesday, aims to promote increased citizen involvement in policy making and the participation of CSOs in the EU accession process.

LJUBLJANA - A clear European perspective for the Western Balkans will improve reforms in the region and EU enlargement to the countries should remain a strategic priority, it was said at the first part of the meeting of Western Balkan foreign ministers in Brdo pri Kranju, where Serbia is represented by Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.

ROME - Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic, who is attending the EU Speakers Conference in Rome, said that she expects the first chapters in the EU accession talks to be opened this year, the parliament speaker's office said in a release on Tuesday.

BELGRADE - The EU has not recognised the role of the Balkans as the springboard for its interests in the Mediterranean and Near East, Centre for International Relations and Sustainable Development Programme Director Nikola Jovanovic stated.

Bosnia made a historic step on its path towards eventual membership of the European club after the EU General Affairs Council on Tuesday approved its long dormant Stabilization and Association Agreement, SAA.

EU reacts to Albanian PM's statement

BRUSSELS -- The EU has reacted to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's statement about "unification of Kosovo and Albania."

BELGRADE - Head of the negotiating team in Serbia's EU accession talks Tanja Miscevic stated on Tuesday that Serbia is excellently prepared for the negotiations and hopes that certain chapters in the EU accession talks would be opened and closed by the end of the year.