Croatia

Bulgaria is planning to transition from the leva (BGN) to the euro (EUR) in just over a year as part of its strategy to enter the Eurozone. While the exact date remains uncertain, the implications of this shift are clear. The newly adopted euro law outlines the process and addresses potential consequences of further delaying Eurozone membership.

BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic said on Tuesday Serbia was a militarily neutral country that was seeking to maintain that status.

"We are militarily neutral and we want to be militarily neutral. We want to safeguard our country and to stay militarily neutral and preserve peace," Brnabic told Pink TV.

Atanas Pekanov, Bulgaria's former vice-prime minister for European funds under the "Donev" administration, has warned that the country is likely to forfeit at least 500 million leva (250 million euros) from the Recovery and Sustainability Plan due to delays in implementing agreed reforms.

Until recently, the European Union’s health department enjoyed special attention, especially after the COVID-19 crisis, when it received an additional €5 billion in funding and established a new agency for health crisis response. At that time, Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, with four decades of experience in the health sector, led the efforts.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has made an appeal to the European Commission to address the distortions and fragmentation in the European energy market, which have led to significant differences in wholesale electricity prices between Southeast European countries and the rest of the EU during the summer.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged the European Commission to address distortions and fragmentation in the European energy market, which led to significant discrepancies in wholesale electricity prices between Southeastern Europe and other EU countries during the summer, according to the Financial Times.

Gas producer Energean reported higher first-half profit on Wednesday, helped by a rise in production due to strong summer demand in Israel, which accounts for more than 70% of total output.

The company is looking to expand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, particularly where there is long-term policy support for gas and displacement of coal.

It has been 31 years since the death of Dražen Petrović, the “Mozart of basketball,” but no one has forgotten him.

The Croatian basketball player, who “bombarded” the opposing baskets and “shattered” defenses with both Yugoslavia and later Croatia, as well as with the jerseys of Cibona, Real, Šibenik, Nets, and Blazers, died in a car accident in June 1993 at the age of 28.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has confirmed the reintroduction of compulsory military service, according to the Belgrade publication "Vreme." The move will see men undergo 75 days of training, while participation will be voluntary for women. Vucic noted that he had discussed the decision with military officials, signaling that the change could take effect within a year.