Geopolitical News from the modern world

Tag archive

Western Balkans

Macedonia tops list of energy reform implementation in the region

in ENERGY/EUROPE by

Macedonia is highly ranked in terms of energy reforms implemented by the Government and the Ministry of Economy. In the Report on Sustainable Development of the Energy Community, dedicated to the countries of the Western Balkans, the Republic of Macedonia is ranked first in the region in terms of progress in the implementation of energy reforms. Macedonia has the highest ratings on the list of six Western Balkan countries, in the area of energy efficiency, renewable energy, environmental protection, transparency and investment conditions in the field of energy.

Thanks to the dynamics of the energy reforms, Macedonia this year ranks first, and in the Report for Sustainable Development of the European Energy Community for June 2017, it was ranked in the group of countries with significant stagnation in relation to sustainable energy reforms. By the end of March, the Macedonian government approved the new Energy Law, proposed by the Ministry of Economy, and the adoption of this law mainly has an economic impact, since it marks the end of the monopoly and the granting of the right to choose consumers, which means that small and medium enterprises, as well as households, will have the right to choose a supplier of electricity and natural gas.

You might be interested in

Western Balkans start doubting EU sincerity

in EUROPE/POLITICS by

According to the Financial Times, the EU should not “step back” towards the Western Balkans, otherwise Russia and Turkey would “fill the gap”. The fact is that the Balkan countries start to “doubt the EU’s sincerity after waiting at the door for years”. For example, only 26% of Serbs think that the EU accession would be a good achievement, according to the newspaper.

You might be interested in

EU prepared to accept both Serbia and Kosovo

in EUROPE/POLITICS by

The EU would accept for six Western Balkans countries to enter the organization, according to Financial Times: Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.

You might be interested in

EU enlargement strategy

in EUROPE/POLITICS by

EU will present the “Credible Enlargement Perspective for the Western Balkans” on February 6th. The document will concern guidelines to boost the process of integration of Western Balkans countries, and in particular of Montenegro and Serbia. 2019 will be a crucial year for the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, according to this paper, and for the negotiations of the chapters 23 and 24 for Serbia in the EU path.

You might be interested in

Hahn: Macedonia and Albania are on the right track towards EU

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

As the UK moves to exit the EU, the Western Balkans are pushing for the opening of the Union’s door. In spring, Brussels can give a green light for opening accession negotiations with Macedonia and Albania, the Austrian daily newspaper Kurier reads. The EU Commissioner for the European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn also told EU-Western Balkans Media Days that took place on Nov. 9 to 10 in Tirana that Macedonia and Albania are on the right track, MIA reports.EC President Jean-Claude Juncker pointed to 2025 as a possible term for admitting new EU members, but according to Hahn, no state has a guarantee that it will join by then. If a specific deadline is set, it can be a danger for the Western Balkans that will not be able to meet the deadline, to remain waiting and to lag behind. A positive moment, which was pointed out at Hahn’s meetings in Tirana, is the improved climate in the relations between Greece and Macedonia. This opens opportunities in the coming months for a possible end of the Greek blockade due to the long-standing name dispute with Macedonia. In regard to Albania, the problem with the thousands of Albanians still seeking asylum in the EU should be solved. It affects the image of the country and therefore has to change, but this cannot be done in a year or two.

You might be interested in

PM Zaev: Progress – only way for the Western Balkan countries to join EU

in EUROPE/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by

Only a progress of all countries in the region may contribute to their EU accession, Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Friday at an annual regional convention on European Integration of the Western Balkans within the project ‘Fostering the partnership between V4 and WB and capacity building in Western Balkans’.The reform plan 3-6-9 is the main road map of the ongoing activities for transforming the institutions, policies and the society, Zaev said, pointing out that the next year is vital for Macedonia, when the country expects substantial progress on its road to joining the Euro-Atlantic organizations.To that effect Macedonia has been working on advancing the relations with its neighbors, Zaev said, notifying the friendship treaty with Bulgaria as an example of ‘our sincere intention’.He also underlined the experience of the Visegrad Group for Macedonia and the Western Balkan countries.Today’s event brought together Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, Ambassadors of Visegrad Group member countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia.

You might be interested in

Bulgaria Sets Priority on EU Membership for All Western Balkan Countries

in EUROPE/Senza categoria by

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva Saturday said that one of Bulgaria’s key foreign policy priorities is to see all countries of the Western Balkans join the EU when they are ready because the region is not stable yet. Zaharieva is in Varna for the 10th Summer University of GERB’s Youth organization. Her recent visit to Montenegro gave her grounds to believe that Bulgaria and Montenegro can set a good example to the Balkans. The Foreign Minister said she was glad the Balkans are one of the key priorities of the European External Action Service. Zaharieva also said there is no way only a certain group of countries can bear the brunt of the migrant crisis. “We should not close our eyes to the fact that those are not refugees but illegal immigrants. If we are to stem their flow, we should not only show solidarity with one another, we should mount a concerted effort. The situation now is worst in the Mediterranean and we should show solidarity with Italy”, she said.

 

You might be interested in

Parliament Opens New Session

in EUROPE/REGIONS by

The five parliamentary groups read out declarations at the opening of Parliament’s new session on Friday. GERB Floor Leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov said the new session is of key importance in view of Bulgaria’s EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2018. The National Assembly will play a very important role as it will host six events. He stressed that it was on Bulgaria’s insistence that the Western Balkans became one of the priorities of the EU Presidency Trio of Estonia, Bulgaria, Austria. He stated that GERB will firmly counter any attempts to denigrate the state bodies for political purposes. “The opposition should realize that [spreading] fake news about the political opponent is not the way to win popular approval”, he said. BSP for Bulgaria Floor Leader Kornelia Ninova noted that the new session was opening on the eve of two important events: Bulgaria’s EU Council Presidency and the drafting of the national budget for 2018. She pledged her group’s support for the policies of Bulgaria’s EU Presidency because this is in the national interest. BSP for Bulgaria will propose a new Bulgarian Development Bank Bill to refocus it to SMEs. Ninova also stressed that her group sets a high priority on anti-corruption legislation. Addressing the legislature on behalf of the United Patriots Parliamentary Group, its Floor Leader Volen Siderov cited the border fence against illegal migrants and the increase of the minimum pension as examples of constructive and effective thinking with a tangible result. Siderov insisted on acknowledgment of the coalition Government’s achievements, citing the easing of administrative burden for companies. “The Presidency of the EU Council requires a new vision and a new governance formula based on fundamental consensus”, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Floor Leader Mustafa Karadayi said, reading a declaration on behalf of his parliamentary group. According to the MRF leader, the new parliamentary session has a serious law-making agenda, and the last stage of preparations for the Presidency of the EU Council is forthcoming. Volya calls on Parliament to focus on two essential things during the present session: improving people’s living standards and curbing corruption, Plamen Hristov MP said in a statement on behalf of the Volya Parliamentary Group.

You might be interested in

pressrelease
0 £0.00
Go to Top
× How can I help you?