Ansa news

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 25 - "The NATO Secretary General has explicitly named Italy and Romania as participants in the aggression against Iran. They, along with all the other European countries that supported the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, must explain to their citizens and the rest of the world why they chose to collude in this blatant act of aggression and the commission of mass atrocities against Iranian populations in Minab, Lamerd, Tehran, Isfahan, Sanandaj, Hamadan, Tabriz, Shiraz,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 24 - Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of the Central European Initiative (CEI), will attend the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026, which will be held in Gdansk on June 25 and 26. Dal Mas will speak in the plenary session at the Conference, contributing the CEI's perspective on Ukraine's recovery, regional resilience, and the country's path to European integration. The CEI's participation demonstrates the Organization's commitment to Ukraine and regional cooperation as a concrete…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 24 - On Wednesday, a state ceremony will be held in Ljubljana's Republic Square to commemorate Statehood Day and Slovenia's 35th anniversary of independence. It will include musical performances and recitals of works by various Slovenian writers. Unlike previous years, it will feature two keynote speakers: President Nataša Pirc Musar and Prime Minister Janez Janša, the Slovenian news agency STA reported. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 24 - The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly expresses "serious concerns about Serbia's adherence to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for civil liberties," in a report approved by a large majority—89 votes in favour, 13 against, and 4 abstentions—during the ongoing plenary session in Strasbourg. The document expresses the Assembly's concern "about a political context characterised by strong polarisation and persistent tensions between the…

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, JUN 24 - Train services in Germany were resuming on Wednesday, the state-run rail operator said, after a breakdown in the railway radio communication system brought trains across the country to a standstill. All trains in Germany were "immobilised at stations" on Tuesday due to the technical problem, Deutsche Bahn said. The operator said later on its website that the glitch had been "resolved" and services were resuming, but warned passengers to expect some disruption to services.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 24 - "Democracy is not a definitive achievement, but must be continuously strengthened, defended, and renewed through dialogue, cooperation, and the direct involvement of people," saidCEI Secretary General Franco Dal Mas, speaking at the international conference "Building Resilience Through Sharing Democratic Experiences: a CEI Appraisal." The Central European Initiative (CEI) and the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Warsaw co-organized…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 24 - The spectre of the infamous "sound cannon" has reignited pre-election tensions in Serbia. According to many accounts, the weapon, also known as a long-range acoustic device (LRAD), was used or "tested" to disperse the largest student-led protest movement in Serbian history on March 15, 2025. As seen in march footage, a "scream," or high-intensity boom, caused panic among the crowd of protesters on the central Kralja Milana Boulevard. Over 3,000 testimonies from citizens…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 23 - The Visegrád Group (V4), a political and cultural alliance between Poland, Warsaw, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, is holding its summit in Budapest and Gödöllő. The meeting, organised by Hungarian leader Péter Magyar as part of Hungary's rotating presidency, which ends on July 1, aims to revive the group, which was paralysed during Viktor Orbán's final years in office. Magyar's negotiating partners include Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Slovakian Prime Minister…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 23 - Slovenia's decision to remove checks on the internal Schengen border with Croatia and Hungary, made by the new government on June 11, "is in line with what we have been saying all along, that the borders of the European Union are actually protected at the external borders, and that migrants certainly do not choose motorways and main roads to enter a country from another European Union member state," said Croatia's Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic today. Bozinovic had…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 23 - Kosovo's outgoing Prime Minister and leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV), Albin Kurti, won the June 7 elections, the third in 16 months. He has declared that he will initiate contacts with other political parties for a new government as soon as the election results are certified. Kurti made the statement on the sidelines of the opening of a multicultural festival in Pristina, while the Central Election Commission (CEC) waits for the appeals process to be completed…

(ANSA-AFP) - KYIV, JUN 23 - President Volodymyr Zelensky will skip this year's Ukraine Recovery Conference hosted in Poland, Kyiv announced Tuesday, amid a spiralling diplomatic spat between the allies and neighbours over World War II memory. The annual event -- which kicks off on Thursday in Gdansk -- is due to gather business leaders and officials to discuss the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, but has been overshadowed by weeks of squabbling over historical memory. Poland's nationalist president…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 23 - Germany could break the June heat record on Friday, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. A spokeswoman for the German Meteorological Service (DWD) told Deutsche Presse-Agentur that this threshold could be exceeded, particularly in the west and southwest. The previous June record high was 39.6 degrees Celsius, set on June 30, 2019, in Bernburg, Saxony-Anhalt. The heat will persist, particularly in the southern part of the country. At the same time, the likelihood…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUCHAREST, JUN 23 - Romania's parliament on Monday rejected liberal politician Adrian Vestea as prime minister-designate, a fresh political upset following months of turmoil in the EU and NATO country bordering Ukraine. Nominated by the president, Vestea needed 233 votes across both houses of parliament to form a government but only received 189, the official vote count indicated, with some deputies having left the chamber before the vote started. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 22 - The Hungarian government has begun the process of removing President Tamas Sulyok, who has refused to resign despite Prime Minister Peter Magyar's requests. "The day after the latest amendment to the Constitution comes into force, the President of the Republic's term of office shall cease," states the text of the constitutional amendment submitted to Parliament by the Magyar government with the goal of removing the head of state. The amendment also includes many other…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 22 - Between April and May of this year, petrol prices in 23 EU countries rose, with Italy experiencing the sharpest increase (+6.9%). This is supported by Eurostat data on fuel price trends. Overall, diesel prices rose by 29.0% and petrol by 16.2% in May compared to the same month in 2025. On a monthly basis, however, EU consumers saw diesel prices fall by 5.8% and petrol prices rise by 0.8% from April 2026. Diesel prices increased by 7.9% in April, while petrol prices rose…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 22 - "We have two major issues. The first, of course, is accession to the European Union, and last week we essentially opened the first and most important door, the first cluster, and the goal now must be to open all of the other clusters as soon as possible," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the start of the EU-Moldova summit in Brussels. "The Commission recommends that the Council open the clusters. The second issue we'll discuss is the growth plan, and…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 22 - A ceremony was held recently at the Škofja Loka Cemetery in Slovenia to return the remains of thirty-two Italian soldiers who died during World War I. The soldiers' remains were discovered in the Vrtojba area of Slovenia during construction work and have now been returned to the Italian authorities, according to the Ministry of Defence. Military honours were bestowed upon the caskets containing the remains of the fallen soldiers. A convoy carrying their remains arrived…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 22 - German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) will travel to Lithuania today for the first exercise of the Bundeswehr's 45th Armoured Brigade stationed there. The "Freedom Shield 2026" exercise on NATO's eastern flank will involve approximately 2,900 soldiers—2,300 of whom are from Germany—and approximately 800 vehicles from eight NATO countries stationed at the Pabrade training camp. The camp is approximately 20 kilometres from the Belarusian border. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, JUN 22 - France and Germany said Monday that they had agreed on the joint governance of arms maker KNDS, paving the way for a blockbuster share offering as they seek to bolster defence cooperation. "This agreement reflects the shared determination of France and Germany to strengthen Europe's industrial and defence capabilities, to support their armed forces, and to reinforce European sovereignty in an enduring fashion," according to a joint statement issued by the French presidency.…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, JUN 20 - A symbolic protest "against the militarisation of borders by the Meloni government and for the restoration of the Schengen Agreement" was organised today by the SI Circle of Benečija and Cividale at the Stupizza/Robič border crossing. Carrying flags and signs, a group of demonstrators gathered to call for "open borders" between Italy and Slovenia. Among those supporting the protest were: AVS FVG, ANPI, ARCI, PD FVG, CGIL FVG, M5S FVG, Patto per l'Autonomia, SKGZ, ICS,…

(ANSA-AFP) - KYIV, 20 GIU - Top Ukrainian officials said on Saturday they were returning Polish awards after President Volodymyr Zelensky was stripped of Warsaw's top order, in a row between the allies over WWII massacres. Zelensky infuriated neighbouring Poland this month by naming a military unit after the nationalist Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) that took part in massacres against Poles in WWII. On Friday, hard-right Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelensky of the Order of the White…

(ANSA) - ZURICH, JUN 20 - "Countries on the eastern flank take defence very seriously. Today we signed the SAFE agreement, worth 3.5 billion euros, with Latvia, to support the procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles, guided missiles and anti-drone systems, whilst accelerating the development of defence capabilities." EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius announced. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 19 - Maurizio Gasparri, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, paid a visit to the Central European Initiative's Executive Secretariat in Trieste today, where he discussed the EU enlargement process, support for Ukraine, and the role of regional organisations in promoting stability, dialogue, and development. "The CEI is a valuable and sometimes underappreciated structure that deserves more attention and visibility. At a time when some Balkan countries…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 19 - According to the European Council conclusions on enlargement, European leaders reiterate that "the EU will continue to work closely with the Western Balkans and support their reform efforts on the path to EU accession," as well as their commitment to "promoting gradual integration between the EU and the region throughout the enlargement process, in a merit-based and reversible manner." (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 19 - In Germany, the Politbarometer shows the far-right's lead over Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives growing. According to this week's survey, Alice Weidel's party has 28% (+1) support, while the CDU-CSU Union has 24%. The Social Democrats gain one point, climbing to 13%. The Greens drop two points to 12, while the Left Party remains at 11. The Liberals increase to four, remaining below the threshold for admission to the Bundestag. According to the most recent YouGov…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 19 - Another layer of division is being evoked in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Homeland Movement (DP), a far-right party allied with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's nationalist Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), is attempting to politically push a resolution calling on the Zagreb government to pressure the neighbouring federation to create a "third Croatian entity," alongside the Croat-Muslim Federation and Republika Srpska (RS). The ultranationalist party has released…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 19 - "The debate on Ukraine" yesterday at the European Summit "unfortunately confirmed that Europe is unable to agree on whether to negotiate" with Russia "or who should do it," Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said upon arrival at the European Council in Brussels, evoking the so-called "Normandy format," the diplomatic roundtable where Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany met in 2014 to end the conflict in Donbass. According to Babis, the meeting was criticised because European…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 19 - Rapid implementation of migrant policies, including hubs in third countries. This is what Giorgia Meloni and Mette Frederiksen request in a letter signed by 17 other European leaders and addressed to EU leaders. "Some initiatives, such as Italian-Albanian cooperation, are already operational. Other countries are currently working to implement new possibilities, such as hubs in third countries. We encourage Member States to pursue these solutions and work with potential…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 18 - The CEI Cultural Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Dimension recently convened in Poland to discuss post-industrial regeneration experiences. Former industrial sites have been transformed into community spaces, cultural centres, and gathering places, restoring value to abandoned areas and creating new opportunities for local communities and future generations. The summit was held in Katowice, at the Silesian Museum, a historic mining region in Poland that is now…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 18 - The shareholders of Società italiana per l'oleodotto transalpino (SIOT) approved the financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, resulting in a net profit of €2.9 million. Transported volumes totalled 41.6 million tonnes (+3.9% compared to 2024), revenues €116 million (+16.8%), gross operating margin €11.4 million, and operating income €5.5 million in the past year. In Italy, infrastructure investments increased to €70.5 million, up from…