Ansa news

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 15 - During the Southwest Europe-Ukraine summit in Kyiv with Zelensky and von der Leyen, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić emphasised the importance of respecting the United Nations Charter and its resolutions, stating that Serbia supports Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. He also expressed gratitude to Ukraine for doing the same. The second important point is about humanitarian aid. "When we talk about it, we mean our support for the financial, medical,…

(ANSA) - UDINE, 15 LUG - Sensory panels designed to improve comfort in crowded tourist spaces, digital tools to manage maritime flows better, systems to reduce water waste, and more sustainable packaging. These are among the six solutions presented in Udine as part of In4blue, a European Interreg Italy-Croatia 2021-2027 project focused on the green and digital transformation of the Blue Economy in the Adriatic region. In Friuli Venezia Giulia, the initiative was promoted by the regional Department…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 15 - Local authorities have announced a project to save Navagio Beach (Greek for "Shipwreck") in Zakynthos, which is home to the wreck of the Panagiotis, a smugglers' ship that sank on the island in 1980. Nestled between the turquoise sea and towering white cliffs, the beach has become one of Greece's most photographed, but it has recently been closed to the public due to the danger of falling rocks from the cliffs. According to local media, the project calls for the beach,…

(ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS, JUL 15 - EU countries on Wednesday agreed to extend the right for Ukrainians fleeing the war to stay until 2028, but excluded military-age men arriving in the bloc. The European Union triggered emergency protections for Ukrainians in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion, giving them the right to live, work and claim benefits in the 27-nation bloc. As the war grinds on through its fifth year, EU member state ambassadors approved a proposal to prolong those rights until March…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 15 - Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv this morning, on her eleventh mission to the Ukrainian capital since the war began. "This is a special occasion. Ukraine has gained significant military momentum. The circumstances are changing. I will announce new initiatives to integrate our defence industries. This will allow us to produce more quickly and efficiently. We will also discuss accession and preparations for this winter," von der Leyen wrote on X. During the mission,…

(ANSA) - UDINE, 15 LUG - AQUILEIA, JULY 15 - For the first time in nearly seven centuries, the three surviving sections of the Gospel of Mark, one of the most important manuscripts of medieval Europe, will be reunited in Aquileia, near Udine, where their story began. The exhibition, The Gospel of Mark. Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. A European Story will be held at Palazzo Meizlik from September 12, 2026, to April 25, 2027. Promoted and organized by the Aquileia Foundation with the support of…

(ANSA) - CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI, 15 LUG - Fear as a key to understanding what lies beneath everyday life and events beyond our control. This is the central theme of the 35th edition of Mittelfest, the Central European culture festival running from tomorrow through July 26 in Cividale del Friuli, with 32 artistic productions from 16 countries spanning theater, music, dance and circus, including 20 world or Italian premieres. This will be the final edition under artistic director Giacomo Pedini, after…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 14 - The European Union has provisionally closed accession negotiations with Montenegro on Chapters 8 (competition policy) and 29 (customs union), bringing the total to 18 out of 33, or "more than half." The decision was formally announced today at the 28th EU-Montenegro Accession Conference. Podgorica is now "in the final phase of preparation for accession," and the Union is "preparing to welcome" the country, according to European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 14 - The programme of Mindaugas Sinkevicius' new government was approved today by the Lithuanian Parliament with 72 votes in favour, 29 against, and four abstentions. The programme is essentially similar to that of the two previous Social Democratic governments led by Gintautas Paluckas and Inga Ruginiene, with a strong emphasis on defence spending and the sustainability of the welfare state. The resumption of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, which…

(ANSA - BELGRADE, JUL 14 - Serbia's Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government, Snežana Paunović, has made a shocking statement: "If I were Slobodan Milošević, I would have committed ethnic cleansing in Kosovo in 1998." "If I were Slobodan Milošević, I would have ethnically cleansed Kosovo in 1998. Paunović, a native of Peja (Peć in Serbian) in Kosovo and leader of the socialist SPS party, an ally of Vučić's SNS, said in an interview broadcast Sunday by the pro-government…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 14 - Bulgaria's place is not in a coalition that demands financial and military aid for Ukraine, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev told journalists. He is in Paris at Emmanuel Macron's invitation to attend the July 14 military parade. "I personally received an invitation from President Macron to join the Coalition of the Willing, but I believe Bulgaria's place is not there because it is a coalition that insists on continued financial and military support for Ukraine," Radev…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 14 - Serbia will be able to move forward with its EU accession process if it continues to implement its reform commitments, said, Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, adding that the path of candidate countries is primarily determined by their ability to "deliver results." "For a country to move forward in the accession process, it must first fulfil its commitments," Kos stated. "Second, the Commission must be able to explain to Member States the reasons behind…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, JULY 13 - The Barcolana Grado Sup Experience, a satellite event of Barcolana 58 presented by Generali dedicated to stand-up paddleboarding, will return for a new edition on Saturday, October 3, in Grado. Open to both competitive athletes and enthusiasts, the event will feature two separate courses: an approximately 4-kilometer route for recreational participants and an approximately 7-kilometer course for competitive paddlers. The race, organized by the Società Velica di Barcola…

(ANSA-AFP) - PARIS, JUL 13 - Nine European countries and Ukraine on Monday announced the formation of a coalition to develop "purely defensive" anti-ballistic capabilities in Europe, citing the growing threat of ballistic missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Paris on Monday for a meeting of Kyiv's allies to reaffirm support for the country and step up pressure on Russia to end the war, now well into its fifth year. "We believe that the protection of Europe, requires a global solution…

(ANSA) - CASARSA DELLA DELIZIA, JULY 13 - The voice of Pier Paolo Pasolini is once again resonating in the house where his poetic universe was born. A new immersive room opens today at Casa Colussi, the writer's maternal home in Casarsa della Delizia, in the province of Pordenone, and the headquarters of the Pier Paolo Pasolini Study Center. The digital space transforms the visit into an emotional experience, bringing images, sounds, photographs, film footage and archival documents into dialogue…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 13 - The Tisza party's two-thirds majority in the Hungarian Parliament approved the government's proposed constitutional amendment, which would end the term of current President Tamas Sulyok. Members of Parliament from Orban's Fidesz opposition walked out of the chamber to protest the "arbitrary" ruling and did not vote. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 13 - "I just spoke with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and reiterated Italy's support for opening Cluster 3 for Serbia's accession to the European Union. This aligns with Italy's strong support for Balkan countries and Europe's reunification." Starting with Montenegro and Albania, I believe their accession processes have concluded or are nearing completion. Then, of course, it will be Ukraine and Moldova's turn." Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made this statement on…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 13 - Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume has revealed for the first time the potential scope of planned cuts at Europe's largest automaker. Without a change in labour costs, this would result in about 50,000 jobs worldwide, he said in an internal interview published on the Volkswagen intranet and made available to German news agency dpa. The magazine "Der Spiegel" had previously reported the news. According to Blume, the figure reflects the plan to reduce administrative, infrastructure,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 13 - Last month, during an extreme heat wave, the number of people who died in water in Germany was the highest in a June in more than 20 years. The German Lifesaving Society (DLRG) reported that at least 99 people drowned. The previous highest number of water deaths in June occurred during the scorching summer of 2003, when 107 people died. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 13 - "The Black Sea will be the most important issue for us; we are evaluating the implementation of an EU strategic approach to the sea. Romania and Bulgaria have promoted the concept of an EU maritime security hub to European institutions," Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu stated. Romania, she continued, "will increase natural gas production in the Black Sea by 80%, and together with Bulgaria, we are submitting requests for European funding for key strategic projects…

(ANSA-AFP) - KYIV, 12 LUG - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a major reshuffle of the government on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and the heads of some law enforcement agencies. Zelensky did not say who would replace Svyrydenko or elaborate on the reasons for the changes. "I am grateful to (Svyrydenko) for her clear, steady, and effective work as Prime Minister, for her years of productive service on Ukraine's team, and I have offered her the…

(ANSA) - KARPACZ, 12 LUG - Over 6,000 people are expected to attend the 35th edition of the Karpacz Economic Forum (Poland) - known as the 'Davos of the East' - the most important conference in Central and Eastern Europe, scheduled to take place from 8 to 10 September. The theme of this year's event - organised by the Institute of Oriental Studies Foundation, in collaboration with the Office of the Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship - is 'The Architecture of the New Order - Stability in Times…

(ANSA-AFP) - TIRANA, 12 LUG - Thousands of Albanians marched in Tirana Saturday calling for the resignation of the country's prime minister and protesting a tourism project linked to the Trump family -- the 42nd consecutive night of such demonstrations. The marchers were also protesting a concert Saturday by controversial US rapper Kanye West, whose antisemitic rhetoric has led to his performances being banned in some European capitals. Demonstrators waving Albanian flags chanted slogans against…

(ANSA) - SARAJEVO, 11 LUG - Ten recently identified victims were laid to rest with honors today at the Potočari Memorial Center, where thousands of citizens, victims' families, and numerous national and international officials attended the commemoration ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of the ten newly buried victims the youngest was 20 years old in 1995, while the oldest was 56. Families reiterated that the search for the missing is not…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 11 - "On this day, my first thoughts are with the victims and their families. I think of the Srebrenica mothers, who have been seeking truth and justice for more than 30 years. Their determination shows that the wound is not healed. Memory is our responsibility. This includes rejecting any type of genocide denial that offends the victims and poisons the future." The Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarah Eti Castellani, read an excerpt from Foreign Minister Antonio…

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 11 - "For the first time, Hungary participated in the proceedings of the 'Friends of the Western Balkans' group. I thanked Hungarian Deputy PM and FM Anita Orban for her contribution to the discussion. Our countries are fully aligned in supporting the economic integration of Southeast Europe, including through significant Hungarian investments in developing the Port of Trieste as a logistics hub for European corridors and the IMEC. We also share a commitment to managing migration…

(ANSA-AFP) - THESSALONIKI, JUL 10 - A man was nearly sucked out the window of a Ryanair flight when it "detached" mid-air en route to Germany, with other passengers pulling him back inside, witnesses and officials said Friday. The passenger, described as a tourist from Serbia on a flight from Thessaloniki in Greece to Memmingen in Germany, has been hospitalised with friction burns but was otherwise in good condition, authorities said. "Most of us had fallen asleep, we had closed our eyes. There…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 10 - "The enlargement of the European Union goes far beyond accession negotiations. Alignment with the acquis is critical, but successful integration also necessitates trust, practical cooperation, and long-term partnerships among countries," said Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of the Central European Initiative (CEI), who attended today's meeting of Foreign Ministers of the "Friends of the Western Balkans" Group at Villa Madama. "Regional cooperation contributes to the…

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 10 - The countries of the Friends of the Balkans Group met today in Rome and adopted a political document promoted by Italy on future accession treaties. According to the Farnesina, the "Charter of Rome" aims to "preserve the credibility, predictability, and unity of the enlargement process." The text reaffirms the principle of full equality among member states following accession, while excluding models of differentiated participation or "second-tier" membership. The importance…

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 10 - The European Union's expansion into the Western Balkans is "an absolute political priority" for Italy, and it must proceed without discrimination among candidate countries, avoiding new obstacles and ensuring equal treatment. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani delivered this message at the opening of the "Friends of the Western Balkans" group's ministerial meeting with the region's foreign ministers at Villa Madama. "The reunification of the Balkans…