European Union

STRASBORG - The EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn has urged the members of the European Parliament (EP) in Strasbourg not to impose new conditions on Serbia in the country's EU accession process.

The European Parliament, joined by the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, on Tuesday debated reform efforts made by Montenegro last year as a candidate country for EU membership.

The resolution called on Montenegro to tackle corruption and organised crime, as well as improve media freedom.

A team from Greece?s international creditors is heading for Athens, as the government prepares to open up its accounts for inspection.

 Frankfurt sees no reason to change its tough stance toward Athens as it has seen no concrete progress

By Sotiris Nikas

It looks like the trouble in growth rates that began in 2014 will extend into this year also, as the January industrial production data that was announced at the beginning of the week was quite lower than expected.   

Representatives of the government and the country?s international creditors are to start ?technical level? talks in Brussels on Wednesday following an agreement thrashed out in Brussels on Monday by eurozone finance ministers, though it remained unclear when, or if, foreign auditors would visit Athens for talks.

If Athens does not proceed with the necessary reforms the markets will lose confidence in the country, Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem warned on Tuesday on the sidelines of an Ecofin meeting in Brussels.

Latvia's Ambassador to Romania Ilgvars Klava on Tuesday said that his country endorses Romania's accession to the Schengen Area and supports the Schengen enlargement if the evaluation process is completed, adding that "all member states should be equally, fairly treated, without the adding of supplementary criteria."

Photo credit: (c) Simion MECHNO / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

Courts in Balkan countries are not seen as truly independent, according to the 2015 EU Justice Scoreboard.

The data were presented on Monday by Vera Jourova, the Commissioner for justice, consumers and gender equality, based on figures from 2013 and 2014.

The finance ministers of the 28 EU member states approved at their meeting on Tuesday the investment plan of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

The ministers approved the regulation for the European Investment Plan Fund, as Italy promised to contribute EUR 8 B to the programme.