News archive of November 2015

A highly unusual online exchange took place on Twitter between the prime ministers of Greece and Turkey before the former deleted his tweets - but only from the English version of his account.
     

World leaders launched a whirlwind day of talks in the French capital on Nov. 30 aimed at forging an elusive agreement to stave off calamitous global warming.

Turkey came out a clear winner from the EU28 leaders summit on EU-Turkey. It was agreed that Turkey would be granted 3 billion euos in refugee aid as well as a promise to accelerate the EU accession process. In return, Turkey would aid the EU by stemming the migration flow to the EU bloc.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said on Sunday Sofia is not intending to take action against the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline project.

On the sidelines of an EU-Turkey summit in Brussels, he commented on last week's reports by Reuters that Sofia would be one of the signatories to a letter calling on the EU Commission to scrutinize the project.

An explosive climate prevails on the central political stage concerning social security following the lack of support by opposition parties and strike action set for December 3 by both the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Greek Workers Association (ADEDY).

Former Yugoslav Army official Vladimir Lazarevic, who was convicted of war crimes in Kosovo, will be given early release next month by the UN court in The Hague.

Turkey is to get some EUR 3 B in funding, visa liberalization with the EU, and the prospect of having membership talks renewed, EU and Turkish leaders have decided at a Sunday summit.

In return, Ankara will have to stem the flow of migrants trying to cross from its borders into neighboring Southeastern European countries.

The Radical Left Coalition’s (SYRIZA) transition from a vibrant, youthful idealistic party to a supporter of the third bailout has caused existential problems amongst its younger members.

September’s victory lacked the jubilance of the January election with most of its younger set choosing to distance itself from the party’s failed promises and rapid U-turn to austerity.

The speaker of Montenegro's parliament, Ranko Krivokapic, is in Brussels on Monday to meet Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn ahead of crisis talks on new elections in the country, due to begin on Tuesday.

The Montenegrin opposition has been boycotting parliament for months after the ruling parties refused to implement new electoral legislation.

John Kerry will visit Belgrade on December 3 to take part in the annual ministerial council of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, organized by Serbia, the country chairing the organisation in 2015.