Southeastern Europe

Prime Minister Djukanovic has dismissed opposition claims that the government handed out a loan of 2 million euro to a notorious alleged gangster.

Addressing the public on "Prime Minister's Hour" in parliament on Tuesday, and responding to a question from opposition MP Darko Pajovic, the Prime Minister said he was not aware of any such cases.

European People's Party Group Chair Joseph Daul met leaders of conservative GERB party and right-wing Reformist Bloc, but also two parties to the left of the political spectrum.

During his visit to the Bulgarian capital on Tuesday Sofia Daul called on political parties to forge a center-right government.

Serbia drops in WB business conditions ranking

WASHINGTON -- The World Bank has issued a prognosis of business conditions around the world for 2015 and ranked Serbia 91st out of 189 countries.

This represents a downgrade from last year's 77th spot, leaving only Bosnia-Herzegovina with a worse rank, at 107.

WASHINGTON - The World Bank has issued a prognosis of business conditions around the world for 2015 and ranked Serbia 91st out of 189 countries, which is drop from last year's rank of 77, leaving only Bosnia-Herzegovina with a worse rank, at 107th spot.

An EU rule-of-law mission special prosecutor in Kosovo said that a senior official at the European judicial body took bribes to free suspects accused of serious crimes.

BELGRADE - European Parliament (EP) member Olle Ludvigsson says that radical measures in segments such as economy, the rule of law, and the fight against organized crime and corruption, are among key conditions for Serbia's membership in the European Union.

"International community should protect Serbs"

BELGRADE -- The Serbian Parliament Committee on Kosovo discussed on Tuesday the current security situation in the province and adopted conclusions.

The document urges the international community to act in line with its mandate and ensure security for all Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija.

Bulgaria's new Parliament is to hold its first regular sitting on Wednesday.

Wednesday's agenda of the newly sworn-in MPs envisages the creation of two interim committees, including one on legal affairs and one on budget and finance, according to reports of the Bulgarian National Radio.

Some 40% of Serbian citizens expect the economic situation to improve, while in Croatia such hopes have only 11% of the people, 26% in Montenegro, and 37% in Macedonia.

The survey shows that 33 per cent of Serbian citizens expect their financial situation to improve, money.bg informs, citing the Tanjug news agency.

EU "lifts sanctions against Milošević"

BRUSSELS -- The European Union has lifted sanctions it imposed against former Serbian and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević, said reports on Tuesday.

Milošević died in 2006 during his Hague Tribunal trial, where he stood accused of war crimes and genocide in Bosnia, and war crimes in Croatia and Kosovo.