Member states of the Union for the Mediterranean

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday stressed that Croatia will press on with the construction of the construction of the Peljesac Bridge despite Bosnian objections.

The Croatian government said on Thursday that it will revoke controversial Ordinance on the Increase of Import Taxes that threatened to lead to a trade war between Zagreb and neighbouring Balkan countries.

Croatia recently adopted new rules that increased fees for inspections of fruit and vegetable imports from 12 euros to 270 euros.

The Cyprus problem, regional developments and bilateral relations with a focus on energy matters were the topics discussed by President Nicos Anastasiades and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in an extensive phone conversation which took place on Tuesday.

A heartbreaking story behind photos showing a boy cuddling and sleeping with a stray dog on a street in Istanbul's Beşiktaş district has been revealed.

Turkish singer Haluk Levent, who is also the founder of the Anatolia People and Peace Platform (AHBAP), said the group contacted the boy.

Albanian PM Edi Rama has taken his casual style to yet another official gathering - this time, the US-Adriatic Charter Summit, held in Montenegro on Wednesday.

The summit was attended by US Vice President Mike Pence and several regional prime ministers, including Rama, who showed up wearing a suit, and a pair of sneakers.

Austria has announced it is ready to use soldiers and tanks to stop migrants crossing its border with Italy, as Brussels urged Europe to help Italian authorities manage an "unprecedented" arrival of people from north Africa.

The other day, I called a Turkish Cypriot academic friend of mine who has written several articles on the Cyprus issue.

"What do you say; do you think they will solve it this time?" I asked directly.

Ahead of previous similar peace talks, he would always resolutely say, "It will not be solved."

Illustration - PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

BRUSSELS - Gross domestic product per capita, according to the purchasing power standard, was 36 percent of the European Union average in 2016 and Serbia is at the bottom of the list, with only FYROM(Macedonia), Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina are ranked worse, said Statistical Agency of the European Union Eurostat.

In 2016, price levels for consumer goods and services differed widely in the European Union. Denmark (139% of the EU average) had the highest price level, followed by Ireland (125%), Luxembourg and Sweden (both 124%), Finland and the United Kingdom (both 121%).

Cyprus, Greece and Israel said on Thursday they would speed up plans for the development of a pipeline channelling gas to Europe from newly discovered east Mediterranean reserves.

European governments and Israel agreed in April to move forward with a Mediterranean pipeline project to carry natural gas from Israel to Europe, setting a target date of 2025 for completion.