Ansa news

(ANSA) - UDINE, 12 NOV - The multinational military exercise Clever Ferret 26 has come to an end at the Postojna training area in Slovenia after two weeks of operations. The exercise involved around 800 troops from the Italian Julia Alpine Brigade and other member nations of the Multinational Land Force (Slovenia and Hungary), with Albania as an observer. The training exercises, carried out in a realistic environment, improved integration between the units and provided an opportunity to test new…

(ANSA) - SARAJEVO, 12 NOV - Republika Srpska (RS), the Serb entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), has allocated 6 million euros in subsidies to purchase Belarusian-made tractors. This effectively circumvents international sanctions imposed on the authoritarian, Moscow-allied regime of Alexander Lukashenko for repressing political opponents and supporting Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The tractors are manufactured by the state-owned company Minsk Tractor Works, which is also subject to sanctions…

(ANSA) - ROME, 12 NOV - There are too many formats for talks on Ukraine and it makes no difference if Italy is involved or not as a negotiator, Premier Giorgia Meloni said Thursday. "As Italy, we have always been present in every format where our participation has been requested," Meloni said on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Dublin, in response to a question regarding the EU envoy for negotiations concerning Ukraine. "We have done so—and continue to do so—with the…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 12 NOV - Crude oil shipments through the Adriatic oil pipeline (JANAF), which supplies Serbia from Croatia's Adriatic coast, have been suspended for several days following a technical accident during maintenance work. According to unofficial sources cited by independent Serbian broadcaster N1, the disruption is expected to last until at least early December to allow repairs to be completed. As a result, the Pančevo refinery, Serbia's only oil refinery, has been forced to reduce…

(ANSA-AFP) - DUBLIN, 12 NOV - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Thursday that it was first necessary to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table on the Ukraine war before deciding on a European envoy. "It's not about individuals; what matters is that Putin is prepared to hold talks," Merz said at a meeting of European leaders in Dublin. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, NOV 12 - "The question is not whom we can trust. The question is what our higher interest is as a European community. And I believe it was a colossal mistake to leave diplomacy to others and focus solely on military support for Ukraine" while "failing to keep a channel of dialogue open with Russia." Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said upon his arrival at the European Political Community summit in Dublin, while reiterating his support for Kyiv. "Whether we like it or not, Russia…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 11 NOV - Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (Cdp) and Banca Etica have signed a 15-million-euro financing agreement under the "Sustainable Access to Finance for Entrepreneurship" (SAFE) initiative, which is being promoted by Cdp with support from the European Union via the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). The operation, which is supported by a Cdp guarantee of approximately 5 million euros, which is fully counter-guaranteed by the EU, will allow for the mobilisation of a 30-million-euro…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 11 NOV - The Serbian Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure has rejected Millennium Team's proposal to build a massive residential and hotel complex in Zemun, on the outskirts of Belgrade, on the site of the former Hotel Jugoslavija (demolished in 2025). Almost simultaneously, the Third Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade issued arrest warrants for three top executives from the construction firm, charging them with "illegal construction." Serbian media…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 11 NOV - The Bundeswehr (German armed forces) does not plan to use Chinese-made drones in the future. The Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday that such devices will no longer be used, even for non-critical security tasks like target identification or training. The current systems will be replaced with products from Germany or, as appropriate, other European countries. The Ministry did, however, emphasise that there is no blanket ban on the use of systems from specific countries.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 11 NOV - Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) claims to have disrupted the activities of a Polish intelligence network in the Kaliningrad region by arresting two Polish intelligence agents and issuing formal warnings to seven Polish citizens and three Russians for espionage and high treason, according to the FSB's Public Relations Centre, as reported by TASS. "The Federal Security Service identified and neutralised a Polish intelligence network operating in the Kaliningrad…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 10 NOV - "A clear understanding of how we will support Ukraine in the coming years is a critical prerequisite for the success of budget negotiations; this is a shared European task, not the responsibility of individual member states. That is how we have always viewed it, and how we have structured our policy toward Ukraine in recent years," stated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during a press conference in Berlin with Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, where they discussed…

(ANSA-AFP) - SOFIA, 10 NOV - Eleven people died and dozens were injured on Tuesday in a mass pileup on a motorway in southeastern Bulgaria, whose roads rank as the most dangerous in the EU. Crashes in thick fog snared dozens of vehicles heading in both directions of the highway linking the capital Sofia to the Black Sea city of Burgas. An estimated 50 cars and trucks were involved in the accident near the city of Yambol, regional governor Georgi Chalakov told the BTA state news agency, as government…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 10 NOV - According to the JFC Italian Mountain Tourism Observatory, Italians are struggling financially, while foreign visitors are playing an increasingly important role in snow-based tourism. The desire for a snow holiday remains strong—70% of Italians intend to take a mountain vacation—but choices are becoming more deliberate, cost-conscious, and last-minute; as of today, 34.4% of those planning a trip have already booked. The economic climate is weighing on Italian families:…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 10 NOV - Montenegro has taken over the presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers for the first time since joining on May 11, 2007. Taking over from the Principality of Monaco, the Balkan nation has promised to provide "unconditional support for Ukraine, its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity." Next week, the pan-European organisation is expected to approve the "Democratic Security for Ukraine" action plan (2027-2030). Podgorica's six-month…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 10 NOV - "Here in Varna, on the Black Sea coast, I want to send a clear message: Europe is with Bulgaria. We are increasing our efforts to strengthen maritime surveillance, protect critical infrastructure, and help restore and safeguard freedom of navigation in the Black Sea," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the second day of her mission to the region. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 09 NOV - On Monday, EU finance ministers gave Slovenia final approval to reduce petrol and diesel excise duties below EU minimum levels for six months, according to Slovenian news agency STA. The authorisation will allow Ljubljana to reduce petrol excise from 41.759 cents to as little as 13.95 cents per litre, and diesel duty from 33 cents to 10.5 cents. The six-month period will begin when Slovenia receives formal notice of the decision. The government requested the exemption…

(ANSA) - BERLINO, NOV 9 - In Berlin, roses were laid to commemorate the fall of the Wall 37 years ago. "Remembering the desire for freedom of those courageous people in the fall of 1989 compels us to fulfill our responsibilities every day," said Axel Klausmeier, director of the Berlin Wall Foundation, as reported by DPA. "To live out tolerance, defend democracy, freedom, and human rights, and tirelessly promote the dream of peaceful coexistence!" In Berlin, it is still possible to see the remains…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 09 NOV - "Italy will always consider the European Union to be incomplete and'mutilated' as long as Albania, along with the other candidate countries, is not a member; I hope this changes soon. This viewpoint is concerned with the future of the peoples of the Western Balkans, who see European integration as a secure path to peace, freedom, and progress." Sergio Mattarella, President of the Republic, made this statement during a meeting with Albanian President Bajram Begaj, which…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, NOV 9 - ""The handover of the Gorizia Railway Junction project marks an important step in the process of upgrading Friuli-Venezia Giulia's railway infrastructure—a strategic initiative that will improve cross-border connections, make rail traffic between Italy and Slovenia more efficient, and strengthen Gorizia's role as a hub connecting the two countries". This was stated by Cristina Amirante, Regional Councilor for Infrastructure and Territorial Planning, regarding today's…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUDAPEST, 09 NOV - Hungarian police took nationalist ex-leader Viktor Orban's brother into custody on Monday, according to a press report shared by Prime Minister Peter Magyar. The pro-EU conservative won a landslide election victory in April to end 16 years in power for Orban, promising to investigate alleged corruption and abuse of office during his rival's rule. "According to press reports, Viktor Orban's brother, Aron Orban, has been taken into custody on suspicion of human trafficking,"…

(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, 09 NOV - Twenty people have died over the weekend trying to reach Greece's island of Crete, which has become a main destination for migrants headed for the European Union, authorities said on Monday. Eight bodies were found on one boat and 12 on another, while some 40 people were rescued off both, the Greek coast guard said on Monday. Maritime police launched an emergency rescue late Saturday after a boat issued an alarm signal, with strong winds making sea conditions difficult,…

(ANSA-AFP) - KRAKOW, 09 NOV - The alleged perpetrator of a deadly weekend shooting spree in Krakow has died, Polish police said on Monday, two days after he was critically wounded in a shootout with officers. "We inform you that the perpetrator of the tragic events died this morning in the hospital," regional police said in a post on X of the 24-year-old Polish man who allegedly opened fire on Saturday in central Krakow, killing six people. Authorities said the man had been "fascinated by far-right…

(ANSA-AFP) - KRAKOW, 07 NOV - Poland's police said on Saturday five people were killed and around a dozen wounded after a gunman opened fire in the historic centre of its second city of Krakow. A man drove a car onto Krakow's Main Square and began shooting at random people, said police. Officers shot a suspect who is now in custody, they added. "As a result of the incident, five people were killed and around a dozen others were wounded," a Krakow police spokesman told AFP by phone. "The perpetrator…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 07 NOV - Greece, Cyprus, and Italy are experiencing "migratory pressure" as a result of a "disproportionate number of arrivals" over the previous year, as well as search and rescue operations at sea. Furthermore, given the overall migration situation—and particularly the incident in Ceuta—"Spain is also facing migratory pressure." As a result, these four member states will be able to "access the Solidarity Fund," subject to "the continued application of rules governing responsibility."…

(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, 07 NOV - Grecia, Cipro e Italia sono sottoposte "a pressioni migratorie" a causa del numero "sproporzionato di arrivi" registrati nell'ultimo anno e a seguito delle operazioni di ricerca e soccorso in mare. Inoltre, tenuto conto della situazione migratoria complessiva e, in particolare, dell'incidente avvenuto a Ceuta, "anche la Spagna è sottoposta a pressioni migratorie". Questi quattro Stati membri potranno pertanto "accedere al Fondo di solidarietà", fatta salva "la continua…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 06 NOV - The European Commission has begun negotiations to integrate Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia into the EU's "Roam Like at Home" regime, as President Ursula von der Leyen announced during her visit to the Western Balkans last month. According to a statement from the EU executive, this will enable people travelling between the EU and the Western Balkans to make calls, send text messages, and use mobile data without incurring…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 06 NOV - Today, the European Union and Montenegro provisionally closed two more accession negotiation chapters: Chapter 1 (free movement of goods) and Chapter 12 (food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policy). The decision was formalised at the 30th EU-Montenegro Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels. This step brings the total number of provisionally closed chapters in the accession negotiations to 23 out of 33. Montenegro, which began talks with the EU in June 2012,…

(ANSA) - BUCAREST, NOV 6 - Ukraine will assume the presidency of the Central European Initiative (CEI) in 2027, taking over from Romania. The handover took place today in Bucharest at the conclusion of the Meeting of Foreign Ministers, attended by ministers and delegations from 16 CEE member countries. The meeting also gave the green light to the resumption of the Heads of Government Summit after a hiatus of several years. In the joint statement, the ministers also expressed support for the prospect…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 06 NOV - "I am the President of the European Parliament, a mother of four, a daughter from a Mediterranean island, a patriot, and a pro-European, and there is no contradiction between these two terms," said EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola while addressing the lower house of the Polish parliament. The visit comes at a time of institutional chaos in the country. Metsola met separately with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the President of the Republic (represented by Karol…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 06 NOV - Colder temperatures across Europe are contributing to the continued depletion of natural gas reserves. In just three days, the EU has lost nearly 1%, falling from 74.56% to 73.75%—equivalent to 835.1 TWh. Stocks in Germany have fallen from 61.05% to 60.25% (149.02 TWh), while in Italy they have dropped from 91% to 90.08% (183.24 TWh), the highest figure among all European nations. Meanwhile, natural gas prices on the Dutch TTF exchange in Amsterdam fell 2.96% to 88…