Multi-speed Europe

Support among Germans for Greece staying in the eurozone has grown over the past three years despite the new government in Athens rejecting its international bailout deal, a poll for German television ARD showed on Friday.

EU leaders reacted with deep sorrow and strong unity to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris. These attacks targeted the fundamental values and human rights that are at the heart of the European Union - solidarity, freedom, including freedom of expression, pluralism, democracy, tolerance and human dignity. All citizens have the right to live free from fear, whatever their opinions or beliefs.

EU leaders have agreed to amend and improve the Schengen Borders Code by boosting checks of people crossing the external borders of the EU.

During a summit on Thursday devoted to fighting terrorism, heads of state or government of EU countries agreed on the need to make full use of the existing Schengen framework to reinforce and modernize external borders' control.

During his first official visit abroad, to France, Romania's new President, Klaus Iohannis,  said that he was optimistic that Romania would soon be allowed to join the EU's border-free Schengen zone.

"I've asked for France to support our entering the Schengen area. I do hope that this will happen very soon," Iohannis said in Paris after meeting French President Francois Hollande.

Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva has insisted that using Schengen accession to pressure Bulgaria into fulfilling its EU obligations in the spheres of justice and home affairs is counterproductive.

Kuneva took part Tuesday in a General Affairs Council in Brussels.

A technical team from Greece will open talks about economic reforms this week with experts from its international lenders, the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, EU officials said.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Monday that he is ?very optimistic? that an agreement with the eurozone can be found, starting with Wednesday?s Eurogroup.

"It's in everyone's interests to reach mutually beneficial solution,? he said after meeting Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann in Vienna. ?That's why I am very optimistic"

EU Commissioner Pierre Moscovisi, speaking via a "spokesman", is the latest top European leader on Friday urging Athens to seek an extension to a bailout scheme ending this month.

A European Commission report published on Thursday holds good news for Romania in 2015.

"Economic growth in Romania is forecast to stay above potential at 2.7 per cent in 2015 and 2.9 per cent in 2016, powered by domestic demand and supported by the gradual recovery expected in the global economy," it reads.

The European Commission foresees a modest growth of 0.8 % for the Bulgarian economy in 2015 and a further 1 % growth in 2016.

This became evident from the Commission's Winter Economic Forecast, which was released on Thursday.

According to it, Bulgaria registered an economic growth of 1.4 % in 2014, which is an increase of 0.2 % compared to an earlier estimate.