Ansa news

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 13 - Accelerate candidate countries' integration into the European Union by providing gradual and systematic access to key sectors of the single market, based on merit and respect for the rule of law. This is the proposal contained in a joint non-paper presented by Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia at the "Friends of the Balkans" group meeting in Bratislava yesterday. The document suggests "systematic sectoral integration" as a "intermediate step towards…

(ANSA) - UDINE, 13 MAG - Mittelfest's under-30 program devoted to theater, dance, music, and circus from Central Europe, called Mittelyoung, will return from May 14 to 17 at the Church of Santa Maria dei Battuti in Cividale del Friuli. Now in its sixth edition, it will feature 9 performances selected from 238 submissions from 28 countries, with 7 nationalities represented: Italy, Germany, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Bulgaria, and Latvia. The program is part of "Fear," the theme chosen…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, MAY 13 - The first joint NATO-Serbia military exercises are under way in the Balkan country, the defence ministry said Tuesday, marking a significant cooperation with a country the Alliance once bombed. Around 600 troops from Serbia, Italy, Romania and Turkey are taking part in the "NATO-Serbia" exercise, alongside military planners and observers from several Alliance countries, the ministry said. It is the first military exercise conducted directly with NATO, which remains…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 13 - Strengthening NATO's eastern flank, increasing defence spending, and consolidating support for Ukraine. These are the central themes of the Atlantic Alliance's Bucharest 9 (B9) format summit, which is currently taking place in Romania's capital amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and tensions with Russia. Voldymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, is also in attendance. Following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2015, Romania and Poland established the B9 format, which…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 13 - In the first round of voting in Stuttgart's regional parliament, Green Party candidate Cem Oezdemir was elected as Baden-Wuerttemberg's new minister-president. The former Agriculture Minister in the Scholz government, a key figure in the integration of the Turkish community in Germany, received 93 votes for, 26 against, and four abstentions. Oezdemir is the Federal Republic's first governor of Turkish origin. His election succeeds the long-serving Green Party candidate…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 13 - On May 22nd, the prestigious Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, will host a performance of "La Pittora," a new piece by Trieste-born composer Luisa Antoni, at the fourth Barocknacht concert. Spanish musician Alicia Saiz Abelleira will play "La Pittora" on the seven-string viola da gamba. The piece, which premiered last summer at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, is dedicated to Artemisia Gentileschi, a 17th-century artist who embodied female strength, talent, and…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 13 - The Paris judicial court has officially opened investigations into Fabrice Leggeri, the former head of Frontex and current MEP for the far-right French party Rassemblement National (RN), who is accused of complicity in crimes against humanity, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by Agence France Presse this morning. The Paris Court of Appeal ordered the opening of the legal case against Leggeri following a lengthy judicial process. The Frenchman, who is…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 12 - The twelfth edition of the CEI Forum for Contemporary Art Curators, an international conference organised by the Trieste Contemporanea Committee with support from the CEI and the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, was held at the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice during the pre-opening days of the Venice Art Biennale. Art historians and researchers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Slovenia, and Ukraine discussed the processes involved…

(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, MAY 12 - A military sea drone found last week off the Greek Ionian island of Lefkada is Ukrainian, the Greek defence minister said Tuesday. Nikos Dendias in Brussels said he had briefed European counterparts on "data having to do with the drone that we fished in Greece...that we have certainty now that it is a Ukrainian (unmanned surface vehicle)". (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 12 - Cooperation between the two countries on the Italy-Albania Protocol continues, according to a statement issued by Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who met with his Albanian counterpart, Besfort Lamallari, today in Tirana and discussed future developments on the Protocol. Piantedosi also confirmed that Italy will continue to actively support Albania's bid for EU membership. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 12 - "The EU Group of Ministers 'Friends of the Western Balkans,' working closely with regional partners, will continue to strongly support tangible progress in preparing Western Balkans partners for EU accession. We urge our colleagues throughout the European Union to continue working on this historic project and to consider it one of the EU's priorities." This is according to the 'Bratislava Declaration' adopted by the Foreign Ministers of the Group of Friends of the Western…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 12 - "The reunification of the Balkans in European history is a top priority for me and the Italian government. This is the most significant strategic investment for the EU. We must move faster! We can create a great area of stability, prosperity, and growth for our citizens and businesses." Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated this during his speech at the Friends of the Western Balkans ministerial meeting in Bratislava, emphasising that "for the first time in a decade,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 12 - Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani arrived in Bratislava to attend a ministerial meeting of the "Friends of the Western Balkans" group and Western Balkan foreign ministers. The meeting will focus on how to accelerate the EU's enlargement process to the Western Balkans, encouraging practical proposals for regional cooperation, the region's gradual integration, and strengthening security cooperation with the European Union. Tajani will reiterate the Italian government's ongoing…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 12 - Albania will not extend its immigration agreement with Italy beyond 2030, especially since it plans to join the European Union by then.reign Minister Ferit Hoxha stated this in an interview with Euractiv. "First and foremost, the agreement is for five years, and I'm not sure it will be renewed. Second, there will be no renewal because we will be part of the European Union," he said. "Everyone has made the same calculation," he explained, referring to the 2030 deadline.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 11 - A simultaneous shock to the terms of trade and uncertainty for households, both of which influence their propensity to save, would create "significant risks to growth and inflation" if it occurred on the scale seen with the war in Ukraine and the subsequent energy shock. This is according to a study included in a preview of the European Central Bank's economic bulletin, which examines the potential effects of the Middle East war. The analysis, assuming an energy shock…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 11 - "Serbia has a very distinct foreign policy in the sense that it is balanced and pro-EU, as this is one of our primary objectives. However, it is also multidirectional in nature and is based on the UN Charter. Serbia is always willing to provide excellent service and host any type of negotiations." Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić suggested a dialogue between Russia and the EU to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. "We are unequivocally in favour of peace and an end…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 11 - "The four German passengers who left the Hondius cruise ship are in Frankfurt's University Hospital and continue to show no symptoms," a spokesperson for the German Ministry of Health said, referring to the four tourists who were on the ship when the hantavirus outbreak occurred. According to the same spokesperson, one of them is expected to arrive at the Charité in Berlin today. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - SARAJEVO, MAY 11 - The international envoy overseeing the implementation of the peace deal that ended the Bosnian war in 1995 confirmed Monday that he will resign after five years in the post. Former German minister Christian Schmidt "has taken the personal decision to conclude his service to the implementation of peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina", said a statement released by his office. German media had reported the decision on Sunday. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) in…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 11 - "If Montenegro moves in this direction—and we will support it—then it will be possible" for Podgorica to achieve its goal of EU membership by 2028, "in the sense that we could conclude the technical part of the negotiations at the end of this year or early next year," stated EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos upon her arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council. "After 17 years, we have established for the first time the working group on the Accession Treaty for a new…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 11 - "Enlargement is essential for both the European Union and the candidate countries," said North Macedonian Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski upon his arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. "It ensures that the Western Balkans are no longer a grey area in Europe, but a group of countries with a clear path to accession." "My country has achieved, especially in recent months, very concrete reforms regarding the implementation of the reform agenda; we are completely…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUDAPEST, 09 MAG - Pro-European conservative Peter Magyar was ceremonially sworn-in as Hungary's new prime minister Saturday, vowing "regime change" after nationalist Viktor Orban's 16 years in power. The former government insider-turned-critic swept to a landslide victory last month, marking a clear break from his predecessor. "I will not rule over Hungary; I will serve my country," Magyar said after he took the oath of office in parliament, while tens of thousands of supporters gathered…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUDAPEST, 09 MAG - The newly appointed speaker of Hungary's parliament ordered the EU flag be hung back on the building on Saturday, ending its long absence under Viktor Orban, who was voted from power nearly four weeks ago. Agnes Forsthoffer said, minutes after lawmakers overwhelmingly elected her to lead the incoming chamber: "Let my first decision as Speaker of the House be the first symbolic step on this path (back to Europe). I hereby order that, as of today, after 12 years, the…

(ANSA) - GORIZIA, MAY 9 - Gorizia's Central Park will host the third edition of the Go! Games, the cross-border neighborhood games, once again under the banner of friendship and mutual acquaintance. The 13 teams representing as many neighborhoods from the municipalities of Gorizia, Nova Gorica and Šempeter-Vrtojba will compete in the green spaces of Valletta Park on the afternoon of Saturday, May 23, tackling an exciting and engaging series of skill tests, once again renewing the spirit of cooperation…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 8 - "The EBRD's CEI Fund is a critical instrument for converting political preferences into tangible outcomes. At this point, strengthening its operations entails tangible support for regional countries and contributions to international efforts, beginning with Ukraine, where resilience and reconstruction are a shared priority," said Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of the Central European Initiative (CEI), during a visit to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 8 - Bulgaria's parliament has voted to support the new government led by Rumen Radev, leader of the newly formed Progressive Bulgaria (PB) party, which won the April 19 snap elections. There were 122 votes in favour, 70 opposed, and 36 abstentions. Of the 240 seats in Sofia's unicameral parliament, 228 deputies voted, but his majority remains at 131. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 8 - "We acknowledge the significant progress you have made in pursuing challenging reforms. These are concrete, long-term reforms that benefit Moldovan citizens. The EU intends to proceed with determination to allow Moldova to join the Union. However, accession is more than just a technical process; it also requires political commitment. Along the way, I want to reassure you that Transnistria will not be a barrier to Moldova's European future." This was stated by Kaja Kallas,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 8 - Commerzbank intends to eliminate approximately 3,000 additional positions across the organisation. The bank explains that this reduction will be partially offset by targeted hiring in selected growth and future-oriented areas. At the same time, the bank intends to maximise the potential of artificial intelligence. Between 2026 and 2030, the bank intends to invest around €600 million in this area. In May 2021, the bank agreed to lay off 10,000 employees, accounting for…

(ANSA) - UDINE, 08 MAG - "Lusitania is not a historical novel; it is a political allegory that speaks about our time. Because the past, unlike the future, is far more unpredictable. Except for one certainty: there is a constant repetition of the same mistakes." This is the view of Dejan Atanackovic, a Serbian writer, artist, and activist, who presented his novel Lusitania yesterday in Udine during a meeting on the "madness of war." A novel "conceived about ten years ago, but dealing with themes…

(ANSA-AFP) - MILAN, MAY 7 - Jonas Vingegaard will make his Giro d'Italia debut on Friday when he begins his bid to win both the Italian Grand Tour and the Tour De France in the same year, thus emulating his great rival Tadej Pogacar. Already a two-time Tour winner, Vingegaard is the clear favourite for the Giro, with Pogacar sitting out this year's edition, and the Dane has been in great form this season. The 29-year-old, who rides for Visma-Lease a Bike, has won two prestigious stage races in Paris-Nice…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, MAY 7 - The federal government, states, and German municipalities can expect much lower tax revenue in the coming years than was forecast in the autumn. The working group on tax estimates has released its forecasts for 2026 to 2030. According to these estimates, the federal government, states, and municipalities will face a €17.8 billion revenue shortfall this year. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil stated that the estimate demonstrates "the extent to which the war in Iran is…