Expats

Germany seeks 'visible' Kosovo-Serbia progress [May 20, 2013] (BELGRADE ) - Germany on Monday called for "visible" progress in implementing a landmark deal between Serbia and Kosovo before securing Berlin's backing for Belgrade's bid to join the European Union. [via YahooNews] More >>

Germany to press Serbia and Kosovo to normalize ties [May 19, 2013] Belgrade (dpa) - German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle arrived in Belgrade Sunday to push Serbia and Kosovo to implement a deal to normalize ties."An agreement on the implementation of the Brussels agreement and the start of its realization is a key condition for Serbia?s further progress on its European path," Westerwelle said.The European Union last month brokered the deal between Serbia ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Serbian tycoon arrested in corruption case [May 17, 2013] (BELGRADE ) - Police arrested Serbia's richest tycoon on Wednesday in a major sweep launched under the government's campaign to root out corruption, a key condition in its bid to join the European Union. [via YahooNews] More >>

Serbian lawmakers vote to support Kosovo deal [May 11, 2013] BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) ? Serbian lawmakers on Friday overwhelmingly supported an agreement normalizing relations with breakaway Kosovo, a potentially landmark deal that could end years of tensions between the Balkan antagonists and put them both on a path to European Union membership. ? ? ? ? [via YahooNews] More >>

Serbia's wealthiest man, 10 others indicted [May 10, 2013] BELGRADE: Prosecutors have charged Serbia?s richest man with embezzlement and tax evasion, in what the government has described as an anti-corruption sweep as the country seeks to join the European Union. [via YahooNews] More >>

Serbia-Kosovo deal with go ahead without vote: Serb PM [Apr 30, 2013] By Jaksa Scekic BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia stepped back from holding a referendum on a landmark accord with its former Kosovo province on Tuesday, saying it would push on with the deal seen as central to its hopes of joining the European Union. The accord outlines an end to the ethnic partition of majority-Albanian Kosovo five years after it seceded from Serbia, and opens the door to European ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Serbia considers risky referendum on Kosovo accord [Apr 27, 2013] By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia raised the possibility of a referendum on Thursday on an accord to end the ethnic partition of its former Kosovo province, a high-stakes gamble that could cost Belgrade talks on joining the European Union. The April 19 deal between Serbia and its majority-Albanian former province won Belgrade a preliminary green light for accession talks this ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Serbian parliament approves normalizing ties with Kosovo [Apr 27, 2013] Serbia's parliament has overwhelmingly approved normalizing ties with its former breakaway province, Kosovo. The historic accord will allow Belgrade to begin negotiating its eventual admission to the European Union. [via YahooNews] More >>

Serbian lawmakers vote to support Kosovo deal [Apr 27, 2013] BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) ? Serbian lawmakers on Friday overwhelmingly supported an agreement normalizing relations with breakaway Kosovo, a potentially landmark deal that could end years of tensions between the Balkan antagonists and put them both on a path to European Union membership. [via YahooNews] More >>

Don't let referendum hold up Kosovo accord, EU tells Serbia [Apr 26, 2013] BELGRADE (Reuters) - The European Union cautioned Serbia on Friday not to delay implementing a landmark accord on Kosovo after Belgrade said it might hold a referendum on the deal, which is crucial to its hopes of starting EU membership talks. The EU-brokered agreement between Serbia and its majority-Albanian former province won Belgrade a preliminary green light for accession talks this year ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Don't let referendum hold up Kosovo accord, EU tells Serbia [Apr 26, 2013] BELGRADE (Reuters) - The European Union cautioned Serbia on Friday not to delay implementing a landmark accord on Kosovo after Belgrade said it might hold a referendum on the deal, which is crucial to its hopes of starting EU membership talks. The EU-brokered agreement between Serbia and its majority-Albanian former province won Belgrade a preliminary green light for accession talks this year ... [via YahooNews] More >>

EU urges Serbia to reform judiciary, fight corruption [Apr 26, 2013] Belgrade (dpa) - European Union membership talks are within Serbia?s reach after its crucial normalization agreement with Kosovo, but Belgrade must still make progress on judicial reforms and in the fight against corruption, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said Friday."I am happy ... that the (European) Commission has been in a position to recommend the opening of accession negotiations ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Serbia-Kosovo deal clears path to EU accession, but long road remains [Apr 25, 2013] This week?s breakthrough deal between Serbia and the disputed territory of Kosovo moves both closer to European Union membership and a conclusion to one of Europe?s last frozen conflicts. But progress towards EU accession is still fraught with difficulty, as Europe continues to struggle with its economic crisis. [via YahooNews] More >>

Serbia considers risky referendum on Kosovo accord [Apr 25, 2013] By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia raised the possibility of a referendum on Thursday on an accord to end the ethnic partition of its former Kosovo province, a high-stakes gamble that could cost Belgrade talks on joining the European Union. The April 19 deal between Serbia and its majority-Albanian former province won Belgrade a preliminary green light for accession talks this ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Kosovo, EU boost spur predictions of policy easing in Serbia [Apr 24, 2013] BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia's accord with Kosovo and the prospect it could start European Union accession talks this year have raised expectations the central bank will cut interest rates to boost growth, ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Serbian Church, Kosovo Serbs protest deal to clinch EU talks [Apr 24, 2013] By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia's Orthodox Church accused the government on Monday of surrendering the country's former province of Kosovo in exchange for talks on joining the European Union. Serb nationalist protesters also vowed "no surrender" in the first signs of a backlash that could, if it gains ground, test the government's resolve to carry out an historic accord struck ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Serbia prepares normalization plan for Kosovo [Apr 24, 2013] BELGRADE, Serbia, April 24 (UPI) -- Serbia's government said it has formed a team to prepare an implementation plan for the European Union-brokered deal to normalize relations with Kosovo. [via YahooNews] More >>

Kosovo, EU boost spur predictions of policy easing in Serbia [Apr 23, 2013] By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia's accord with Kosovo and the prospect it could start European Union accession talks this year have raised expectations the central bank will cut interest rates to boost growth, analysts said on Tuesday. The Serbian dinar has been bolstered by the April 19 deal to settle fraught relations between Serbia and its former province, which earned ... [via YahooNews] More >>

EU opens to Serbia after Kosovo deal [Apr 23, 2013] By Justyna Pawlak and Adrian Croft LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - The European Commission encouraged EU governments on Monday to start membership talks with Serbia, in recognition of Belgrade's accord with Kosovo last week that marked a milestone for the Balkans' recovery from the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Talks could start within the year - if all European Union capitals agree at a meeting ... [via YahooNews] More >>

European Commission opens pathway to membership for Serbia [Apr 22, 2013] BRUSSELS, April 22 (UPI) -- The European Commission Monday urged European Union members to start membership talks with Serbia after Belgrade reached a deal to normalize ties with Kosovo. [via YahooNews] More >>