Elmar Brok

Bled – Developments in Afghanistan could be an opportunity to strengthen the EU, was one of the views presented at the former leaders’ panel at the Bled Strategic Forum on Wednesday, where the importance of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans and differences on European values in the EU were also highlighted.

Unofficial information suggests European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker would invite the Slovenian and Croatian prime ministers to a meeting in the coming weeks.

Juncker is said to plan to take on a more active role, yet Ljubljana and Zagreb are still expected to find a solution themselves.

Companies in Turkey are concerned about rising tensions between the Turkish government and the European Union, according to Cansen Başaran-Symes, chair of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD). 

Turkey-EU relations are extremely important for businesses, Başaran-Symes said during an interview on private broadcaster CNN Türk on Nov. 18. 

Top European Union lawmakers on Nov. 17 canceled a visit to Turkey after Ankara refused to see an MEP because of her criticism of Ankara's massive crackdown following July's failed coup.

Top EU lawmakers on Nov. 16 cancelled a visit to Turkey after Ankara refused to see one of the MEPs because of her criticism of Ankara's massive detentions following July's failed coup, a parliament source said.

The migration crisis in Europe and progress in the implementation of the related EU-Turkey deal have been on the agenda of a meeting of Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov with the Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs Elmar Brok.

Aleksandar Vucic has received a delegation of EP's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the Subcommittee on Human and Minority Rights (DROI).

The European Parliament (EP) delegation that met with the Serbian prime minister in Belgrade on Thursday was led by Elmar Brok, the Serbian government said on its website.

European Union Affairs Minister Volkan Bozk?r has sent letters to senior European Parliament figures, urging them to consider proposals to amend an upcoming report on Turkey, warning that Ankara has "sensitivities over three topics in particular."

US Republican Senator John McCain has turned down an invitation to be one of the advisors to Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko.

This was announced in a statement published on McCain's page on the website of the US Senate, with the Republican citing "provisions of the US Constitution concerning the interaction of Members of Congress with foreign governments."

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Titus Corlatean, currently honorary adviser to the Prime Minister, on Thursday said that Romania had a "wise attitude" and preferred to encourage the dialogue between Turkey and Armenia concerning the "extremely delicate" topic of "the genocide" against Armenians.

Photocredit: (c) Alex TUDOR / AGERPRES ARCHIVE