Politics of the European Union

291 lawmakers in Greece sanctioned an omnibus bill of 13 prior actions with 153 voting in favor, 138 voted against.

The new bill gives the right to sell bad business loans from local banks to overseas distress funds as part of a new austerity bill demanded by bailout lenders from the rest of the eurozone.

EU leaders will debate sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict at a summit this week and are expected to extend them for six months, foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Dec. 14.

The European Commission has started legal action against Greece, Italy and Croatia for failing to correctly register migrants. Greece has been criticized for failure to fingerprint around 121,000 of the almost 500,000 people who arrived in the country between July 20 and November 30, 2015, according to EC estimates.

The OSCE Ministerial Council meeting on Thursday and Friday in Belgrade will be the culmination of Serbia's one-year chairmanship of the international security body.

Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, who is the 2015 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, said critical issues such as the Ukraine situation, the refugee crisis and terrorism would be discussed.

The foreign ministers of NATO member countries will convene at a two-day meeting in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss current security issues and challenges.

The main issues on the agenda are Afghanistan, challenges from the south, relations with Russia, support to Ukraine and Montenegro's bid to join NATO.

Leaders from the European Union and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu gathered at a summit in Brussels on Nov. 29 with the goal of signing an agreement that will offer Ankara cash and closer ties with the EU in return for Turkish help in stemming the flow of migrants to Europe.

Greece managed to unlock rescue funds worth 2-bln-euros on Monday and 10 billion euros for the recapitalization of Greek banks. The meeting of Eurozone finance ministers concluded with an invitation on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to maintain his commitment to meeting the bailout requirements.

Greece has done all the reforms in the a first package of measures agreed with eurozone creditors, which paves the way for Athens to get the next tranche of loans, the head of eurozone finance ministers Jeroen Dijsselbloem said on Nov. 21.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic met Friday with a delegation of MEPs from the Greens–European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament.

The group was led by Philippe Lamberts, co-chairman of that political group.

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday in Belgrade received a group of MEPs from the ranks of the European People's Party (EPP).

According to the government's website, he "expressed gratitude for the support they offer to Serbia on its path to the EU."