EU Council of Ministers

The European Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) approved Wednesday draft EU rules on sharing and protecting the Passenger Name Record (PNR) data of people flying to or from the EU, and its use by member states and Europol to fight terrorism and serious transnational crime.

An important trade deal between the US and EU, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, may be signed directly by the European Commission - by-passing the need for the deal to go to national parliaments.

The TTIP is a free-trade agreement designed to encourage multilateral economic growth and job creation.

A protest against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, nicknamed "Beware of the Trojan Treaty," will be organised in Zagreb, Croatia, on Wednesday.

Like others around the EU, the protest in Zagreb aims to raise awareness of what activists claim is the harm that the TIPP will do to the interests of society.

MEPs called for more measures to prevent the loss of migrant lives in the Mediterranean, including more funding for search and rescue missions, during the plenary session on April 27-30.

EU accession "depends on Serbia's progress"

BELGRADE -- Opening of first chapters in EU accession negotiations with Serbia is the first goal, but the success and speed of the process will depend on Serbia's progress.

EU requires Serbia to "gradually harmonize policies"

BRUSSELS -- The EU Council of Ministers has asked Serbia to gradually harmonize its foreign and energy security policy with those of the EU.

BELGRADE - Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic stated on Friday that Serbia will try to round off the amendments to the action plan for Chapter 24 in the EU accession talks in January and February so that it would be ready for the beginning of negotiations in March.

BELGRADE - In the conclusions that are to be adopted at next week's meeting of the Council of Ministers, the EU praises Serbia for the reforms implemented, but does not set a timeframe for the opening of the first negotiation chapter, the RTS has reported.

EU praises reforms, no timeframe for first chapter

BELGRADE -- In the conclusions that are to be adopted at next week's meeting of the Council of Ministers, the EU praises Serbia for the reforms implemented, RTS reported.

However, the document does not set a timeframe for the opening of the first negotiation chapter.

Organ trafficking investigator to publish statement

BELGRADE -- The chief prosecutor of EULEX for alleged human organ trafficking in Kosovo and Albania in 1999 will issue a statement on the findings of the investigation.