Ansa news

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 10 - Czech President Petr Pavel met with Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya today in Prague to discuss the situation in her country, support for democratic forces, and ways to counter Russia's attempts to exploit Alexander Lukashenko's regime for its own aggressive goals. Petr Pavel announced the news via the X network. Today, Tikhanovskaya also met with Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - UDINE, 10 GIU - Christians, Jews, and Muslims came together at the Synagogue of Athens in the name of music, with a concert by the first European interfaith choir. This concept was the core of the second stage of Polyverse Singing Across Faiths, a project co-funded by the Creative Europe program and led by the Foundation Society for the Preservation of the Basilica of Aquileia, following its launch in Aquileia. The event, organized in collaboration with the Jewish Community of Athens, combined…

(ANSA-AFP) - SOFIA, JUN 10 - Bulgaria will no longer provide weapons from its army stocks to Ukraine, the prime minister of the NATO and EU member said on Wednesday, calling for "the pursuit of a diplomatic solution" to end the war. While the country's defence industry is set to remain one of the main suppliers of ammunition destined for Kyiv, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the government was "putting an end to the provision of weapons from the Bulgarian army to Ukraine". "We have already given…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 10 - "Italy remains the only European country" among the 15 where the survey was conducted "to oppose additional military spending (58% versus 28% in favour), while public opinion in Estonia and Austria is divided (46% in favour versus 44% against and 45% in favour versus 45% against, respectively). This is according to a survey released by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) prior to the G7 summit. There is now widespread support for the EU to pursue a policy…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, JUN 9 - The University of Udine has launched a monitoring campaign of submerged seagrass beds and algal communities in the northern Adriatic Sea, along the coasts of Italy and Croatia. The project involves the use of autonomous marine drones to collect high-resolution data on coastal marine habitats and their conservation status. The operations are based on the University's multidisciplinary laboratory vessel, the Uniud Sailing Lab, based in Monfalcone (Gorizia). The mission set…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUDAPEST, JUN 9 - Hungarian prosecutors Tuesday charged the head of the country's anti-corruption organisation with offences including embezzlement. Prosecutors allege that Ferenc Biro caused losses of 400,000 euros ($465,000) to the Integrity Authorty, an autonomous public body established in 2022 as part of EU mandated reforms. The authority is slated to have its legal powers expanded under new reforms that the pro-EU government of Peter Magyar, in office since May, agreed with Brussels…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 9 - "In a period marked by complex geopolitical challenges and the risk of fragmentation, regional cooperation remains an essential tool to support the European integration process and strengthen regional stability," said Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of the Central European Initiative (CEI). Dal Mas met today in Brussels with senior officials from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood, as well as the Permanent Representatives…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 9 - With support from the Consulate General of Romania in Trieste, the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Romania (CCIPR) is hosting 'Navigating the Geopolitical Reset: Implications for Global Business' on June 11th in Trieste's Sala Maggiore of the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce. The meeting will discuss new international geopolitical and economic dynamics and their effects on businesses and regions. The prospects for Italy-Romania collaboration and Friuli Venezia Giulia's…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 9 - "Our persistence in implementing sanctions against Russia is paying off. That is why, today, we propose the 21st package," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, introducing the 21st sanctions package against Russia. The sanctions target energy, finance, and the entry ban for Russian war veterans from Ukraine. Measures targeting the fishing industry are also proposed. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 9 - "Kyiv's future lies in Europe. We wholeheartedly support this goal, but it must be achieved through a merit-based process that does not create disparities with other candidate countries, particularly those in the Balkans." Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, together with Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, stated this to the joint Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate. "The Italian government supports Ukraine on reforms and in the fight…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 8 - Albin Kurti celebrated his election victory with supporters in Skënderbeu Square in downtown Pristina, complete with fireworks and drummers (tupana). He assured them that he could form a majority in parliament, despite receiving 42.92% of the vote (95% of the votes counted) with his three smaller allies and losing the absolute majority he had secured in December. In his speech to the cheering crowd, the outgoing prime minister promised to work with the other parties to…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 8 - The European Commission has expressed "concern" about the mega-luxury resort on Sazan Island promoted by Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and has requested that Albania "refrain from actions" that could jeopardise its path to EU membership. "We have already expressed our concerns to the Environment Minister about the potential shortcomings of this project," a Commission spokesperson said, emphasising Tirana's commitment to suspend work and conduct "a full environmental…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 8 - "The new members of the Peace Implementation Council believe that the new High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina should, as is customary, be from a new Member State. As a result, the new members are completely committed to appointing a successor as soon as possible." This was stated by European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper at the daily press briefing, in response to a question about the choice between Italian Antonio Zanardi Landi and French René Troccaz…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 8 - "Poland and Italy are also actively participating in the process. There is an ongoing dialogue with European partners. E3 is a tried-and-true format; we've seen that even in recent weeks and months, a small group can plan for success. However, this does not preclude other European partners from participating," German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said at a press conference in Berlin. "One of the essential conditions for Germany is not to go it alone," he added,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 8 - EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos congratulated outgoing Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti on his election victory and the "peaceful, inclusive, and orderly conduct of the vote." "To continue Kosovo's journey to the EU," she wrote in X, "political forces must now unite and find compromises to ensure institutional stability. I eagerly anticipate returning to Kosovo at the earliest opportunity to accelerate work on the country's EU integration and maintain our commitment…

(di Ilire Zajmi) (ANSA) - PRISTINA, JUN 7 - Albin Kurti again won elections in Kosovo, but lost an absolute majority and will now have predictable difficulties forming a new government. The outgoing premier and his Vetvëndosje movement, with three small allies, drops from the 51 percent he won last December to 43-46 percent. That's the result of Kosovo's third general election in the past 16 months, according to early exit polls, against preliminary data showing a sharply declining turnout: only…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, JUN 7 - Closing and controlling the 232-kilometer border with Slovenia cost at least 20 million euros, including 18.7 million euros to pay the travel expenses of agents sent to Friuli Venezia Giulia to reinforce the Border Police. The remaining 1.7 million, however, was spent on logistics and equipment. This is the estimate calculated by an investigation by the newspaper Il Piccolo and published today in Nem Group newspapers since the closure of the crossings on October 21, 2023,…

(ANSA) - PRISTINA, JUN 7 - At 7 a.m., the 949 polling stations that will allow some 2 million Kosovo citizens, including those in the diaspora, to vote in general elections today for the third time in 16 months opened. Vying for the 120 seats that make up the Kosovo Assembly are 22 parties and three coalitions, the largest of which has allied the leftist populist nationalist party Vetëvendosje Movement (Lvv) of outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti with smaller formations: Guxo, Alternativa, and…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 5 - "Today's clear message is, and will remain, that we want you. We want the Western Balkan countries to join the EU soon, and we will start a gradual process," said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the conclusion of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro. "Montenegro is on track to become the EU's 28th member state in 2028. And we encourage Montenegro to keep up the pace of reforms," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the press conference following…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 5 - "With Emmanuel Macron, we presented a concrete proposal for how to proceed and make enlargement possible, particularly in some Western Balkan countries. The EU must demonstrate its capability and willingness to expand." This was stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz upon arriving at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro. "There are still many questions we need to address, and we must do so together. But above all, this part of Europe must belong to the…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 5 - The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be unable to attend the EU-Western Balkans Summit, which is currently taking place in Tivat, Montenegro, due to a delay in the ceremony commemorating the 212th anniversary of the Carabinieri's founding in Reggio Calabria. According to reports, Meloni apologised to Montenegrin President Milatović and European Council President Costa for being unable to attend the meeting, which was scheduled to end at 3:30 PM. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 5 - "We have proposed a process of strengthened integration with Germany" for the Western Balkans, a region "very important for Europe for its strategic independence in terms of energy and security," said French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the summit between the EU and the Balkans. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - BUCHAREST, JUN 5 - A sea drone exploded early Friday in Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta without causing casualties, a week after an aerial drone crashed into an apartment building in the country, injuring two. "The maritime drone discovered this morning, June 5, in the Civil Port of Constanta ... self-destructed around 10:30 am local time (0730 GMT) without causing any casualties," the country's defence ministry said in a statement. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 5 - Following yesterday's vote of confidence in parliament for the new government led by conservative Janez Janša, the Palestinian flag was removed from the facade of the government building. Slovenian, Ukrainian, and European Union flags still fly.ime Minister and Freedom Movement leader Robert Golob harshly criticized this move, which occurred just minutes after the formal handover of power. The Palestinian flag was symbolically raised on the facade of the government building…

(ANSA-AFP) - WASHINGTON, JUN 5 - The United States said Thursday it would "reconsider" its presence in Bosnia after failed talks with European officials on picking a new high representative to oversee the Balkan nation's peace accords. "European indecisiveness, and the PIC's abdication of its own duty...is forcing the United States to reconsider our role in the current international presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina," an unnamed State Department spokesperson said in a statement. The Peace Implementation…

(ANSA) - SARAJEVO, JUN 4 - Black smoke in Sarajevo. German Christian Smith's successor as the new High Representative of the International Community (Ohr), tasked with enforcing the Dayton Peace that ended the civil war in Bosnia in 1995, was not appointed at today's meeting of the Steering Committee of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) because of the clash between groups of countries. Thus, the election of former Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi, who was strongly proposed by the United…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 4 - The Slovenian Parliament approved the cabinet of Prime Minister Janez Janša with a 49:30 vote this evening. The government took office immediately and will hold its first session tonight, according to Slovenia's news agency STA. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - BUCHAREST, JUN 4 - Romanian president Nicusor Dan on Thursday designated pro-European MEP Eugen Tomac as prime minister, a month after the previous government leader was ousted in a no confidence motion. "Since the parties cannot agree among themselves, the only possible solution is a prime minister who is independent of the parties in parliament and who can successfully steer Romania ... in the direction the Romanian people want, that means a pro-Western stance, that means maintaining…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 4 - The EU-Western Balkans Summit begins this evening with an informal dinner hosted by Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic and culminates tomorrow. The summit is a significant step forward on the enlargement dossier, which also includes Ukraine and Moldova, and will be one of the priority issues at the 27-member summit on June 18-19. The EU-Balkans summit, which will take place in the seaside resort of Tivat, a few kilometres from the Bay of Kotor, will be attended by a…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUDAPEST, JUN 4 - Hungarian prosecutors said Thursday they had dropped charges against organisers of last year's Pride marches, citing a landmark ruling from the EU's top court. Budapest's progressive mayor, Gergely Karacsony, was charged in January for organising the city's 30th Pride parade despite an official ban ordered under the former prime minister, nationalist Viktor Orban. But in April, the European Court of Justice found that Hungary's 2021 anti-LGBTQ legislation -- which…