International relations

The leaders of Greece’s two pro-business parties, Theodoros Skylakakis (photo) of Drasi and Thanos Tzimeros of Recreate Greece, wrote to the broadcasting watchdog on Wednesday to complain that they are being “almost totally ignored” by TV news programs despite the fact the parties won 1.6 percent of the vote in the June 2012 elections, when they ran on a joint ticket.

Leftist opposition SYRIZA on Wednesday announced another six of its candidates for next month’s European Parliament elections, following a stormy session of the party’s political secretariat, leaving the final two of its 42 hopefuls to be finalized in the coming days.

By Stathis Kousounis

The Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) has set its target for this year’s tourist arrivals from abroad at 18.5-19 million and revenues at 13 billion euros, as bookings from foreign markets continue to show a strong rise.

Bulgaria will host the annual meetings between the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank next year.

The government decided on Tuesday to accept an existing proposal according to which the IMF-WB meetings could take place in Bulgaria, Dnevnik.bg has reported.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has announced plans to "immediately" bolster collective defense at the alliance's eastern flank.

Forces "at sea, in the air, on land" are to be rapidly deployed in response to the continued Ukrainian-Russian  standoff, The Guardian quoted him as saying.

The average Bulgarian household hast to give its entire 7-year income to buy a 75 sq/m home, while the other Europeans need between 2.5 and 4 yearly incomes, shows a 2012 survey. 

It was presented by the Minister of Investment Planning Ivan Danov. 

Sofia City Court has once again put off the trial against former Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, as a juryman was not present.

Wednesday's court session was to address a BGN 50 569 (around EUR 25 285 EUR) embezzlement claim and to include hearings of high-profile witnesses.

Interview: Croatia's president promotes MEP election

In an interview with SETimes, Croatia's president says the upcoming European Parliament elections are important for Croatia and the Western Balkans.

Croatia's MEPs are working to secure an EU future for the region, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic told SETimes. [AFP]

The deep division running through the ranks of the country’s main opposition party regarding the euro and how Greece’s negotiations with its partners and creditors ought to be carried out is very dangerous indeed.

The crisis which continues to be felt by both Greece and the entire European Union demands responsible and serious political and economic decisions.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras presented New Democracy’s candidates for the May 25 European Parliament elections on Tuesday and unveiled the conservative party’s main strategy for the upcoming electoral contest, which will be to argue that a vote for SYRIZA will put Greece’s economy recovery at risk.