The EU’s new Western Balkans strategy will be unveiled by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini at 16.00, followed by a debate. Borders should be torn down not built. We are in favour of extending Schengen to the Western Balkans under the conditions set by the Commission #IamEuropean #WeAreEurope #FutureOfEurope — Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) February…
Tag: Western Balkans
Zaharieva optimistic over Western Balkans EU membership
Today MEPs had an exchange of views with Ekaterina Zaharieva, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, at the hearing of the Committee of Foreign Affairs (AFET). The issue of Western Balkans has evoked keen attention of MEPs, both for its paramount importance for the EU, but also for its special place for…
MEPs debate with Borisov Bulgaria’ plans
MEPs discussed the priorities of the incoming Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. https://twitter.com/EP_President/status/953550449927442432 MEPs welcomed the Bulgarian Presidency’s intention to concentrate on the EU perspective of the Western Balkans and the future of young people in Europe. 'When Bulgaria joined the EU, I felt, like the…
#EUCO for "pragmatic" migration strategy
EU leaders agreed that their “comprehensive, pragmatic and resolute” migration strategy, which aims to restore control of external borders and to reduce arrivals and the number of deaths at sea, was bringing results and should be consolidated. At the same time they highlighted the need for vigilance on all migration routes and readiness to react to any…
EU to reintroduce long-term border controls
European Commission confirmed EU border controls could be extended in crisis, giving it more leeway to stem migration. We must preserve and strengthen #Schengen. Free movement and security = two sides of same coin. What do we propose? →https://t.co/Y8Hr3j4oSB pic.twitter.com/RSgELrSSTk — European Commission (@EU_Commission) September 27, 2017 The proposal by the EU executive comes as border…
NATO committed to Western Balkans
Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller underlined that NATO remains committed to the Western Balkans and to building a strong partnership with Serbia during a visit to Belgrade on Friday (23 June 2017). Ms. Gottemoeller is visiting Serbia for the inauguration ceremony of President Aleksander Vučić. DSG @Gottemoelerl underlines #NATO remains committed to Western Balkans &…
Serbians say "we don't need EU"
Serbian lawmakers booed the European Union’s top diplomat Federica Mogherini while she addressed the Parliament during tour aimed at playing down tensions in the Balkans. Mogherini’s trip to all six Western Balkans states, still traumatized by wars in 1990s along political, ethnic and religious lines, is meant to lay the groundwork for an EU…
Foreign affairs Council agenda
The Foreign affairs Council will start with a joint session of defence and foreign affairs ministers on security and defence. The Council is expected to adopt conclusions assessing progress achieved since the European Council of 15 December 2016. The conclusions will form the basis of a report for the European Council on 9-10 March 2017….
Mogherini heads to Western Balkans
EU top diplomat Federica Mogherini will travel to the Western Balkans from first to forth March, visiting Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. “For the European Union the work with the Western Balkans, a region in the heart of Europe, is a key priority. I work to see every…
Europol' crack down on migrant smugglers
During the joint action day, which aimed to dismantle organised crime groups smuggling migrants into the EU and within the Schengen area, the following actions were carried out: Three premises searched in Hungary. One was a hotel in Budapest, used as a major safe house for irregular migrants. Several organised crime groups used this…
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