Ansa news

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 23 - Expectations for German exports are improving, confirming a recent trend: according to the Ifo, expectations have risen from -9.4% in April to -3% in May. "The easing of the customs conflict has allowed exporters to breathe a sigh of relief," said Ifo's Klaus Wohlrabe. Export expectations are especially high in the automotive, mechanical, and electrical sectors. In contrast, expectations for the metallurgical and chemical industries are declining. However, the Ifo advises…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 23 - Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, emphasised the EU's full support for North Macedonia's path to European integration during her visit to Skopje today. "The EU supports North Macedonia. You are the first country in the region to sign the Partnership for Security and Peace, which guarantees joint support to Ukraine and the rest of Europe," Kallas said during a press conference with Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 23 - "The Constitution allows us to live in freedom, peace, and security, and we are proud of that. However, our freedom is under attack from both within and without, as it has rarely been before. That is why we must fight for a strong constitutional state and defend our democracy every day," said German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz on social media. Today marks the seventy-sixth anniversary of Germany's Grundgesetz, or Basic Law. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 23 - In the first quarter of the year, the German GDP in the final figure increased by 0.4%, compared to a preliminary estimate of 0.2% and analyst forecasts that the preliminary figure would be confirmed. Germany's GDP fell by 0.2% in the final three months of 2024. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 22 - Serbia has joined SEPA, the Single Euro Payments Area, as its 41st member country, effective today. Finance Minister Sinisa Mali announced the news, describing it as a significant step forward in the country's financial and European integration. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 22 MAG - The New Alpe Adria Chamber of Commerce Network, whose activities were presented in Brussels, aims to support businesses in the Alpe Adria region and help create an economically favorable environment for cross-border and transnational collaboration. Established in 2007, the network includes 10 Chambers of Commerce from Italy, Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia. According to a statement, the presentation was preceded by a speech from Moray Gilland, head of the unit for Macro-Regions…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 22 - "What is happening" in Gaza is "unjustified and unacceptable: Israel must immediately cease these operations," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated in an interview with private broadcaster Skai. "Greece maintains a strategic alliance with Israel, and we must tell the truth to our allies," the Greek PM continued. "I also told Netanyahu privately that the horrific attack on October 7 cannot justify operations with disproportionate humanitarian costs," Mitsotakis…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 22 - Slovenia will extend internal Schengen border checks with Croatia and Hungary until 21 December due to increased terrorism threats. The decision as announced by the Slovenian Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar after a government meeting on Thursday. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 22 - The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, emphasised the importance of Serbia continuing and accelerating its reform process in order to progress towards European integration. Speaking at a press conference at the end of her visit to Belgrade, Kallas stated that reforms, in addition to being on paper, must have a concrete implementation plan. She emphasised the importance of reforms aimed at ensuring media freedom, electoral law,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 22 - Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar told Slovenian correspondents in Brussels on Wednesday that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, following her address to the European Parliament, according to STA. "What we are seeing in Gaza is genocide—and we are silent," Pirc Musar wrote on X. "While upholding international and humanitarian law, the EU's primary objective must be the swiftest possible cessation of hostilities," she stated. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 22 - In Romania, the Constitutional Court has rejected the request to annul the presidential elections presented by the far-right leader George Simion. Simion lost 46.4% of the vote in the May 18 runoff to centrist and pro-European candidate Nicusor Dan, who won 53.6%. After initially admitting defeat and congratulating Dan on his victory, Simion changed his mind two days ago, demanding that the vote be annulled, denouncing external interference in the elections, blaming France…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 21 - From May 26 to June 9, the Krivolak military range in North Macedonia will host a multinational exercise involving armed forces from seven NATO countries, including Italy, and two partner states. General Sahko Lafciski, Chief of Staff of the Macedonian Armed Forces, announced the news today, stating that the goal of this exercise, dubbed 'Immediate Response 25', is to strengthen regional security, increase NATO's operational readiness, and support the Alliance's defence…

(ANSA) - VARSAVIA, 21 MAG - 'Relations between Italy and Poland transcend the statehood of the two countries: cultural, economic and political contacts between our nations have their roots in the centuries, gradually intensifying to the point of playing a central role in their respective national histories'. Ambassador Luca Franchetti Pardo's opening message to the single issue of the magazine 'Il Veltro' dedicated to relations between Italy and Poland, which will be presented at the Italian Cultural…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 21 - The central part of the 18th edition of the 'Dolce Vitaj - Italian Festival' began in Slovakia in May, a much-anticipated event designed to promote Italian culture and lifestyle, with the word "vitaj" meaning "welcome" in Slovak. The festival, organised by the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Bratislava in collaboration with the Italian-Slovak Chamber of Commerce, will run until June 26 with events in Bratislava, Zilina, and Trencin. Among the initiatives…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 21 - "It is our responsibility today to accelerate concrete progress for candidate countries on their path of integration into the European family; the alternative, of which unfortunately some signs are already visible, is that of a weakening of the pro-European drive in public opinion, and thus in the governments, of those countries whose trust in the Union and in its promises of well-being and security we have not been able to adequately nurture," said the Italian President.…

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, MAY 21 - German prosecutors said Wednesday police had swooped on a group of far-right teenagers alleged to have carried out attacks on asylum seekers and plotted to undermine the government. The suspects, reportedly aged 14 to 18, are said to have been members of a "right-wing extremist terrorist organisation" founded in April 2024 and known as the "Last Wave of Defence", the federal prosecutor's office said. Their aim was "to bring about the collapse of the democratic system…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 21 - In Kosovo, the attempt to elect the president of the new parliament following the February 9 legislative elections failed for the 19th time today. In fact, with opposition votes, the chamber rejected the majority party Vetevendosje (Self-determination), led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti,'s proposal to express its opinion on the presidential election by secret ballot. Prior to this proposal in recent days, Vetevendosje's candidate for President of the Assembly, Albulena…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 21 - Donald Trump has appointed Darryl Nirenberg as the new US ambassador to Romania. "Darryl has 40 years of foreign policy experience," the president wrote in a post on Truth, noting that the new ambassador served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "He has been and will continue to be a tireless advocate for my 'America First' agenda, and he will help us strengthen our ties with Romania, maintain our military partnership, and advance and defend America's economic…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 21 - Assets worth millions of euros have been seized, and 52 people have been arrested in Italy and Albania for crimes ranging from international drug trafficking to money laundering and abuse of office. This is the result of a major operation between Italy and Albania that began at dawn and was carried out by the Bari DIA and Albanian authorities, with the assistance of Interpol, the Office of the Security Expert of Tirana, and the Albanian Police, on orders from the Bari…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 20 - In the first quarter of 2025, Germany exported 41.2 billion euros to the United States and imported 23.5 billion euros from the US. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), exports to the United States exceeded imports by nearly 75%. In the first quarter of 2025, Germany's export surplus in goods trade with the United States was the highest of any of its trading partners, totalling 17.7 billion euros. It was 4.8 billion euros higher than Germany's second-largest…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, MAY 20 - "CEI is committed to supporting European integration, promoting regional stability, and strengthening concrete cooperation tools," stated Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of the Central European Initiative (CEI). Dal Mas met today in Skopje with Timcho Mucunski, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Republic of North Macedonia, in the presence of Italian Ambassador Paolo Palminteri. "The active participation of the Western Balkan countries is now more necessary…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 20 - The EU Commission today proposes rules that will facilitate the application of the concept of safe third country by member states, "speeding up procedures" for asylum and "reducing pressure" on the reception systems of the 27 ("while preserving legal guarantees and ensuring respect for fundamental rights"). Among the new features, it is clear: "The connection between the asylum seeker and the safe third country will no longer be mandatory", but defined by national law,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 20 - "The plan does not envisage reaching 5% in one year, but increasing the defence budget by 0.2% per year for a period of five to seven years," said German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, speaking at the Defense-Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. "Then I prefer to discuss meeting NATO's needs in terms of capabilities and resources, rather than abstract figures, because, for example, 3% will not be sufficient to meet all of them," he said. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 20 - "The EU has approved its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, which targets nearly 200 ships from the shadow fleet. The new measures also address hybrid threats and human rights," stated EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. "Additional sanctions against Russia are being prepared. The longer Russia continues the war, the more severe our response will be." (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 19 - In Kosovo, the 18th attempt to elect the president of the newly elected parliament during the legislative elections on February 9th failed today. The stalemate is preventing the constitutional process of forming the new government from moving forward, which, if it continues, could result in new elections. The standoff is between the government and the opposition, which opposes the majority party Vetevendosje's (Self-determination, nationalist left) proposal to elect the…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 19 - "Your brilliant electoral success, for which I warmly congratulate you, constitutes a development of great importance not only for Romania but also for the further advancement of the European integration process," stated the Italian President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in a message sent to Romania's new President, Nicuşor Daniel Dan. "I am confident that the achievement of this unavoidable common objective and numerous high goals will be greatly aided by the…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 19 - "On behalf of the Italian government, I congratulate Nicusor Dan on his election as President of Romania," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media. "I am confident that we will be able to establish a constructive collaboration in order to strengthen bilateral cooperation between our countries and achieve the common goal of promoting peace, stability, and prosperity for our peoples and Europe," she stated. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - WARSAW, MAY 19 - Pro-EU Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski scored a narrow win in the first round of Poland's presidential election and will face nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki in the June 1 runoff, official results showed on Monday. An overall victory for Trzaskowski would be a boost for the centrist government led by former European Union leader Donald Tusk, which has been at loggerheads with the current nationalist president. A Nawrocki win would likely extend the political deadlock…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUCHAREST, MAY 19 - Nicusor Dan, the centrist mayor of Bucharest, won a tense rerun of Romania's presidential election on Sunday, beating nationalist George Simion in a vote seen as crucial for the direction of the EU and NATO member bordering war-torn Ukraine. The ballot came five months after Romania's constitutional court annulled an election over allegations of Russian interference and a massive social media promotion of the far-right frontrunner, who was not allowed to stand again.…

(ANSA) - ROME, 18 MAG - With counts at more than 95 percent pro-EU candidate and reformist mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan has won the presidential elections in Romania. According to the Digi24 portal, Dan registered 54.3 percent of the vote against 45.6 percent for ultra-right leader George Simion. (ANSA).