Liberal democracies

BELGRADE - The Italian government will continue its efforts aimed at making the Serbia-EU talks increasingly profitable and progressive, Italy's Secretary of State for European Affairs Sandro Gozi has told the Danas daily.

Austrian officials invited to WW1 centenary event

BELGRADE -- President Tomislav Nikolić says bilateral relations between Serbia and Austria are "very good," while they are "strongly connected" by Austrian investments.

Greece’s six-month presidency of the European Union, which is set to end on June 30, is likely to be the least costly on record, according to sources at the Foreign Ministry who indicated that less than half of the 50 million euros earmarked for the presidency by former Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras have been spent so far.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said on Thursday, during talks with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, that bilateral relations are very good, and noted that the two countries are strongly connected by Austrian investments in Serbia on the one hand and a large number of Serbs living in Austria on the other.

BELGRADE - Consumption expenditure per capita in Serbia totalled 43 percent of the EU average in 2013, the assessments of the European Statistical Office of the EU Eurostat show.

Bulgaria registered in 2013 levels of consumption equaling 50% of the EU's average values, Eurostat data has shown.

Actual individual consumption (AIC) was the lowest in Bulgaria, which is closely followed by Romania, while Luxembourg topped the ranking with 38% above the medium rate, data from the EU's statistical body cited by the Daily Luxemburger Wort reveals.

Bulgarians are the nation least satisfied with their life throughout the European Union, a new study published by the Guardian shows.

Austria "to continue supporting Serbia's EU path"

BELGRADE -- Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann stated on Thursday that his country "will remain a strong and reliable partner to Serbia on its European Union path."

Speaking in Belgrade, he added that the support to Western Balkan countries is "an integral part of Austria's policy."

BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled an action plan of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII) that hands Serbia a major role and includes a phased reconstruction of the railway line from Belgrade to Bar.

Economy and Energy Ministry will launch an advertising campaign to promote year-round local tourism to Bulgarians. 

The campaign, which will encourage Bulgarians to visit various places in the country will cost BGN 3.1 M and is funded by the Regional Development Programme of the EU.