EU General Affairs Council

Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis emphasized at the EU General Affairs Council of cohesion policy ministers that reforms must accompany investments to improve regional competitiveness.

BELGRADE - If Brussels's message at the end of the electoral campaign in Serbia was that we have to recognise the so-called Kosovo, that will not happen, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday.

BRUSSELS - EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said the EU General Affairs Council had adopted conclusions on Serbia on Tuesday.

He was speaking at a press briefing in Brussels.

When asked by Tanjug if the body had discussed Serbia and whether he expected the conclusions to be adopted by the European Council, he said the answer was very clear.

Diplomatic sources from Brussels reaffirmed on Tuesday Greece's stance that it will not consent to Albania's EU accession process without progress on the issue of the elected mayor of Himare, Fredi Beleri.

The government in North Macedonia has rejected opposition accusations that has downplayed the tough preconditions that Bulgaria has set on the expected launch of EU membership talks and on the gradual solving of open issues.

The EU General Affairs Council's harsh warning to Ankara and its decision to ask the European Commission to review possible sanctions against Turkey in response to its violation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus was in part shaped by the implied threat by Cyprus' Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulidis that he would not sign on to the Council's conclusions on EU enla

The EU General Affairs Council (GAC) today decided to call on the Commission to propose appropriate measures against Turkey over its continuing illegal drilling in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn told a news conference today.

The GAC reiterated that the EU has «frozen» talks with Turkey on accession and the customs union.

We are glad that there is a great improvement in the relations between the European Commission and Poland, Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said at a press conference after the morning session of the EU General Affairs Council meeting on 27th of February. Zaharieva chaired the meeting.

BRUSSELS - The Council of the EU has sent a positive message about the Union's enlargement policy, Serbian FM Ivica Dacic said after a meeting of ministers of EU member states and candidate countries in Brussels Tuesday.

The Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved Bulgaria's positions for the April 27 EU General Affairs Council and the April 29 European Council in an EU27 format (without the UK). The two forums are to adopt the guidelines for the Brexit talks.