Southeastern Europe

DUBLIN - Serbian PM Ana Brnabic met on Friday in Dublin with the chairman of the Republic of Ireland's parliamentary committee on European Union affairs Colm Brophy, noting that Serbia naturally belonged in the European family of nations and that the entire Western Balkans belonged there as well.

ROME - Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic said on Monday Italy wanted to back European integration of the entire Western Balkans.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Italian FM Antonio Tajani, Dacic said a meeting of Western Balkan FMs in Italy was a useful initiative.

BELGRADE - Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who is on an official visit to Serbia, said on Tuesday the Greek stance on non-recognition of the self-declared independence of the so-called Kosovo remained unchanged and that Greece was consistently implementing a constructive policy aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

The implementation of the proposals for the upgrading of the trans-European energy networks that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tabled at last week's European Union summit will bring geopolitical, economic and energy benefits to Greece, the state-run Athens-Macedonian News Agency reported on Sunday.

Serbia's customs authorities said Friday they discovered nine migrants hiding among aluminum rolls in a truck headed to Poland from Greece.

Customs officers on Serbia's border with North Macedonia spotted the migrants on Wednesday during a scan that showed human silhouettes in the back of the truck, a statement said.

Diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Greece were established in 1880, developed gradually over the years, and today they are at an exceptional stage of maturity.  They develop constructively, showing an upward trend in all areas, especially after the accession of Bulgaria to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in March 2004 and its membership in the EU from January 1, 2007.

BELGRADE- Serbia and the Western Balkans should become a part of the EU as soon as possible, Italian Deputy PM and FM Antonio Tajani said in Belgrade on Tuesday, thanking Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for the great efforts invested to reach a peaceful solution in the Balkans.

BELGRADE - Italian FM Antonio Tajani said on Tuesday in Belgrade Italy wanted greater presence in Serbia and the Balkans, which he noted had strategic significance.

The region must feel loved and valued by neighbouring countries, Tajani said.

BRUSSELS - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday normalisation of Belgrade-Pristina relations was of great significance and that she hoped both sides would seize the moment in the dialogue and be constructive in upcoming discussions.

Located in the 'European district' of the Belgian capital, Brussels, the House of European History sits next to the European Commission and a stone's throw from the European Parliament, its main sponsor. Spread over four floors, the exhibition space is dedicated to the history of Europe and is a key part of the EU's own tourist offer.