Ansa news

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 2 - "We want to put Germany back on track. Now it's clear that this is possible," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during a press conference in Berlin, presenting the governing coalition's agreement on the reform package. The agreement was reached overnight, following a marathon seven-and-a-half-hour consultation. The package includes measures to lower taxes, stabilise the social system, and boost growth. However, the chancellor also sought the cooperation of the German…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 1 - Italy has assumed the rotating presidency of the Tallinn Mechanism, which it will hold until December 2026. The Tallinn Mechanism is the primary multilateral coordination platform for Ukraine's civilian cybersecurity. The Mechanism's initiatives, supported by its 14 member states, aim to strengthen the resilience and protection of Ukraine's digital infrastructure. "Italy's foreign policy prioritises supporting Ukraine's cyber security and resilience. With this commitment,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 1 - IG Metall is urging Mercedes-Benz workers across Germany to protest the tightening of austerity measures. According to the announcement, demonstrations will take place this Friday at the Sindelfingen and Untertuerkheim (Stuttgart) plants. The union's local representation in Stuttgart has also planned actions in Rastatt, Kuppenheim, Bremen, Berlin, Hamburg, Duesseldorf, Ludwigsfelde, and Germersheim. The context is that the Stuttgart-based automaker is tightening its austerity…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 1 - Serbian oil company NIS has received a new exemption from US sanctions, the seventh since January. The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has granted a new "licence" until July 31, allowing Hungarian MOL and Russian oil giant Gazprom to continue the difficult negotiations to acquire the 56% stake in the Belgrade-based company currently held by the Russians, which has been subject to US sanctions imposed since last October. MOL made…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 1 - The most common sentiment among Italians is "uncertainty" regarding the current historical situation. This is what the European Parliament's most recent Eurobarometer report reveals. In fact, 56% of respondents identified this as their top feeling, ranking among the highest, alongside Greece (59%), Cyprus (56%), and Belgium (52%), compared to the EU average of 44%. Pessimism is also prevalent among Italians. When asked how they expect their personal standard of living…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 30 - Despite a 10-hour session in Sarajevo, members of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Committee were unable to agree on the appointment of the new High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, representatives from the PIC member states agreed to appoint an interim High Representative for 30 days. At the same time, it was decided that Christian Schmidt would resign as High Representative. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 30 - The Lithuanian Parliament approved Mindaugas Sinkevicius, Secretary of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (PSL), for Prime Minister with 80 votes in favour, 28 against, and two abstentions. Sinkevicius is expected to present the new government's composition in the coming days, which will include representatives of the centrist movement 'In the Name of Lithuania', the League of Peasants and Greens, and the League of Poles of Lithuania, with whom an agreement to form…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 30 - Fincantieri, Kayo, and Pavarësia Professional Institute of Vlora signed a Memorandum of Understanding today at Pashaliman shipyard in Albania. The agreement's goal is to create training and educational programmes focused on shipbuilding and naval construction. According to the press release, the ceremony was attended by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Defence Minister Ermal Nufi, Fincantieri CEO and General Manager Pierroberto Folgiero, Kayo CEO Ardi Veliu, and Fincantieri…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 30 - Slovenia's conservative Prime Minister, Janez Janša, has hinted in statements to the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom that he intends to move the Slovenian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as the Trump administration and other countries have done. He also wants to freeze the recognition of the State of Palestine, which was formalised by the previous government led by progressive Robert Golob, as it "does not comply" with Slovenian law. President Nataša Pirc…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 30 - The European Commission has approved a financial package outlining the budgetary provisions that will apply to Montenegro once it has completed its EU accession process. The proposal, which will now be reviewed by the EU Council, marks another step forward in the final phase of accession negotiations, following the member states' agreement to begin drafting the Accession Treaty. The package, according to an EU executive statement, aims to support the conclusion of Chapter…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 30 - Bosnia and Herzegovina could have a new High Representative today: the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) will meet in Sarajevo at 10:00 a.m. to select a candidate to replace the outgoing Christian Schmidt. However, the nomination will be the result of a nearly month-long tug-of-war between the main European governments, led by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the European Union, which are steadfast in their support for French diplomat René Troccaz's candidature,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 30 - Milojko Spajić, Montenegro's Prime Minister, and his party, Pokret Evropa Sad, have joined the European People's Party as associate members. "Our family is growing!" A warm welcome. Montenegro's continued engagement brings it closer to Europe and strengthens our shared commitment to our common values," the EPP stated on social media. The Balkan country may join the EU as early as 2028. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - STADE, JUN 29 - A sixth person has died after a shooting spree at a youth centre in northern Germany on Monday, police said, labelling the crime a likely "extended family tragedy". The six dead are adults and one person wounded in the shooting was in "stable" condition, a police spokesman told AFP. The suspected male shooter has been arrested, and two other people were being held over a possible connection to the events, the spokesman added. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 29 - The price of a litre of petrol on Slovenia's national road network will rise by 0.7 cents at midnight to EUR 1.537, while diesel will be 0.2 cents cheaper at EUR 1.605, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy on Monday. The new prices, which only apply to service stations outside motorways, will be in effect for seven days, from June 30 to July 6, the Slovenian news agency STA informed today. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - UDINE, 29 GIU - Today in Trieste, Senator Tatjana Rojc and Deputy Debora Serracchiani, both from the Democratic Party, presented an amendment to electoral law reform to help candidates from the Slovenian minority gain access to Parliament. Rojc explained that Italy's constitutional framework "does not allow the introduction of a 'reserved seat' for a representative of the Slovenian minority. So, with the help of experts, we have drafted a provision that can serve as an incentive for political…

(ANSA-AFP) - WARSAW, JUN 29 - Poland on Monday signed a $4.8-billion contract with Sweden to purchase three Saab submarines intended to strengthen its defence capabilities in the face of a growing Russian threat. "Poland is acquiring three A-26 type, fifth-generation submarines, the most modern ones," Polish defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said following the signing ceremony in the Polish Baltic port city of Gdynia. He added that the submarines Poland is set to obtain are "designed to…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, JUN 29 - The most severe heatwave ever recorded in Europe roasted central and eastern parts of the continent on Monday and began to creep over Ukraine, which scrambled to prepare its war-ravaged power grid for the shock of scorching heat. The heatwave first smothered western Europe last week, sending mercury to record highs and straining hospitals, transport networks and power grids on a continent where infrastructure was not built to withstand the punishing temperatures and…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 29 - "We are well aware of the long-running demonstrations in Serbia calling for the resignation of President" Aleksandar Vucic, who "is now taking action on the matter. Elections will follow, and as always, it is up to the affected population to select their own leader. We will follow and respect the Serbian people's decision to elect a new leader. We will see who presents themselves, who the candidates are, and we will completely respect the Serbian people's decision." This…

(ANSA-AFP) - BEIJING, JUN 29 - Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, a key Russian ally, in Beijing on Monday, state media said. Xi hosted Lukashenko at the ornate Diaoyutai state guesthouse, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said. "China-Belarus relations have withstood the tests of international challenges" and are "entering the best period in history", a Chinese government readout said. Xi told Lukashenko their two countries "should mobilise resources in all…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, JUN 29 - Thousands gathered in scorching heat in Belgrade on Saturday for a ruling party rally to hear Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic declare he would step down within "weeks". Serbia has seen regular anti-corruption protests since 16 people were killed in the November 2024 canopy collapse at Novi Sad's railway station, with calls for a transparent investigation growing into demands for early elections. Vucic, who has dominated Serbian politics for more than a decade,…

(ANSA) - PRISTINA, 27 GIU - Kosovo's Central Election Commission (CEC) has announced the final results of the snap parliamentary elections held on June 7. CEC Chairman Kreshnik Radoniqi said that, following the decision, candidates have the right to file appeals against the proclamation of the results within 48 hours. Talks among the parties will now begin on the formation of a government, the election of the speaker of Parliament, and the election of the president of the Republic. Radoniqi said…

(ANSA) - UDINE, 27 GIU - "I met with Bosnia's Foreign Minister,' Elmedin Konakovic, 'and we discussed Bosnia as well as the future High Representative, whose appointment will have to be decided," Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said while on a mission to Dubrovnik. "There is an Italian candidate in the running," Tajani added, referring to Antonio Zanardi Landi. "We will see how an overall agreement can be reached." "But of course, there are also many Italian military personnel present in…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 27 - Italy plans to "work hard to accelerate the full accession" of Western Balkan countries to the EU. "Of course, Albania and Montenegro are prepared, but we also want to assist the other countries in ensuring that the vast majority of them join the EU. This is a political priority for Italy," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated during his speech at the Dubrovnik forum. "We are working hard with this group, which I founded, as well as with our Western Balkan friends.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 27 - In Venezuela the picture of the post-earthquake situation remains "tremendous", and as regards the toll of victims with Italian citizens "we have confirmation that there are three deceased", four injured and around 42 missing: Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Uno Mattina, connected from Dubrovnik. "With a community made up of 150,000 people plus those not registered on the plane, we fear that there may be other problems for our compatriots," Tajani further reiterated.…

(ANSA-AFP) - FRANKFURT AM MAIN, JUN 26 - Europe's largest carmaker Volkswagen is considering cutting tens of thousands more jobs worldwide and shuttering up to four plants in Germany, Manager Magazin reported Friday. Volkswagen is already planning to cut 50,000 jobs across its brands in Germany by 2030 as it is struggling with high costs, US tariffs and fierce Chinese competition in electric vehicles. A Volkswagen spokesman said that he could not comment on confidential matters but added that the…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 26 - The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, will be in Dubrovnik this evening and tomorrow to attend the 20th edition of the Dubrovnik Forum, an annual international conference organised by Croatia and focused on key regional, European, and global issues. The Forum is a key event in the debate over major geopolitical challenges, and it is expected to attract a large number of political and institutional participants. Minister Tajani will participate in the "The Age…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 26 - Gender equality in foreign policy, the role of regional cooperation, and the fight against gender-based violence and femicide were the topics discussed at a conference organised by Montenegro's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the United Nations Development Programme. Diplomatic representatives from CEI countries, members of Montenegro's diplomatic corps, and officials from international organisations attended…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 26 - Following the devastating earthquake in Venezuela, the first plane carrying rescue workers and humanitarian aid from Germany is en route to the disaster zone. An A400M transport plane took off from Wunstorf in Lower Saxony, according to a dpa reporter on the ground. In addition to soldiers, the Bundeswehr aircraft carry rescue teams from the Federal Technical Relief Agency (THW), as well as tonnes of material and equipment. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 26 - The EU Commission proposes extending the temporary protection granted to refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine until March 2028. "The current temporary protection regime expires in March 2027, which is already tomorrow. We must ensure continuity, clarity, and stability. As a result, we propose extending temporary protection until March 4, 2028," said EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner, adding that "the proposal states that temporary protection will not be…

(ANSA) - UDINE, 25 GIU - The University of Trieste and Adriaports today organized a conference on possible alliances and forms of cooperation among the ports of Trieste, Koper, and Rijeka to achieve shared goals, titled "Three ports, three regulatory frameworks - Trieste, Koper and Rijeka, between competition, cooperation and common development." Among the speakers was Massimo Campailla, from the Department of Legal Sciences at the University of Trieste. He explained, "The meeting stems from an…