EU leader denounces Russia's 'hybrid war' aiming to destabilize Western Balkan democracies
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday denounced Russia's hybrid attacks against democracies, saying the European Union is fighting daily to debunk misinformation.Von der Leyen was in Kosovo as part of a trip this week to aspiring EU member states in the Western Balkans to assure them that enlargement remains a priority for the 27-nation bloc. Von der Leyen denounced Russia's efforts “to destabilize these democracies,” adding that Brussels works to unveil propaganda “to the benefit of a whole region.”“It is possible for us to stand up with the truth and with transparency and with very...
Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia to discuss ways to curb illegal migration
(Reuters) - The leaders of Slovakia, Hungary and Serbia will meet on Tuesday to discuss protecting the European Union's borders against illegal migration, including through new solutions, the Slovak government office said on Monday.
European Commission chief assures Western Balkans of the bloc's enlargement progress
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen began a tour of the Western Balkan countries on Wednesday, assuring them that the enlargement of the trade bloc remained one of its priorities.The Western Balkans countrie s — Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia — are at different stages in their applications for EU membership. The countries have been frustrated by the slow pace of the process, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022 has propelled European leaders to push the six to join the bloc. Von der Leyen started a regional tour with a visit to...
EU stays on the sidelines over migrant deal between Italy and Albania
A top European Union official on Wednesday refused to be drawn on an opinion of an agreement between Italy and Albania to process some migrants in centers set up in the tiny Western Balkan country, saying only that it was being closely monitored. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that “from the very beginning on we have been very clear that we are monitoring the development related to this agreement very closely.”Under a five-year deal signed last November by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and her Albanian counterpart, Edi Rama, up to 3,000 migrants picked up by...
Germany's Scholz wants Western Balkan states to join EU within decade
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday said he hoped Western Balkan states would keep making progress towards European Union membership, as he hosted leaders from the region for a summit in the German capital. "I hope it won't take another 10 years before all six states finally become EU members," Scholz said, referring to Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Albania. The chancellor made the comments alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference on the sidelines of the meeting, which saw leaders sign a plan of action on a common market in the region,...