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Serbia is just one of seven countries are currently waiting to become part of the EU. The others are Macedonia, Albania, Turkey, Montenegro and Kosovo.

Serbia, so recently mired in bitter conflict, is edging to membership of the EU

By: EBR | Friday, November 21, 2014

But, as it prepares to open of the first negotiating chapters, the Balkan state is said to face "huge" challenges before it can be deemed ready to join the 28-strong club.

The research concludes,”Violent ethnic conflicts in other parts of the Caucasus persuaded people that inter-ethnic clashes have no military solution except the gloomy prospect of destroyed settlements and the emergence of refugees.

New report highlights work to integrate ethnic groups in Azerbaijan

By: EBR | Thursday, October 16, 2014

A new report has applauded the efforts being made to integrate the many diverse ethnic minorities living and working in Azerbaijan

I am trying hard, but I know that not everybody can like you. I know that people will not understand my arguments and why would they, even if they knew what I know

Serbian Prime Minister in robust defence of deep and painful fiscal consolidation measures

By: EBR | Tuesday, September 23, 2014

We have to talk to the IMF, we want to obtain their support and I dare say I hope we will get it. Serbia would thus become the first country to have implemented these measures on its own

Yanus was arrested in July and is accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of euros from charities with which she was involved

Baku condemns "interference" by European Parliament following call to free prisoners

By: EBR | Thursday, September 18, 2014

Suleymanov, who campaigns for the rights of the million people displaced by the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories by Armenia, said "yet again" EU lawmakers were being "selective" with the issues on which they campaign

The priority for all of us now is to support the economic recovery in all EU member states and to help overcome the social divides that have widened since the onslaught of the crisis

New CoR President Lebrun: ‘We should not forget that two-thirds of EU policy is delivered at local and regional level’

By: N. Peter Kramer | Thursday, June 26, 2014

Michel Lebrun was elected as President of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) today (26 June) replacing Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, who has stepped down to be a Spanish MEP. The Belgian Lebrun has been a member of the assembly since its birth in 1994

The Polish authorities need to ensure that Poland stops being seen as the enemy of its entrepreneurs

Newly-elected MEPs urged to investigate plight of Polish tax police `victims`

By: EBR | Monday, June 16, 2014

Polish justice ministry figures show that between 2001 and 2007 about 90 per cent of the public prosecutor´s applications for pre trial detention were allowed by the courts.

Mrs Hande Özsan Bozatli, AER President, warmly thanked Commissioner Hahn who all over his mandate was attentive to the regions′ needs and proposals: “You have been a great supporter of our work at AER and I thank you for the trust and confidence that have always characterised our many exchanges.”

Regions and business vouch for an effective economic subsidiarity

By: EBR | Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Since 2013, the focus of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) has shifted with the ambition of creating stronger links between the business sector and regions throughout Europe.

A joint statement following the meeting on 15 May between the European Commission and the Moldovan government reiterated the need to "fight corruption, including high-level one, reform the justice sector and improve the business and investment climate."

Moldova "not yet ready" for European Union integration

By: EBR | Thursday, May 22, 2014

EU council chief Herman Van Rompuy has confirmed that the signature of an association and free trade pact with Moldova will take place on 27 June in Brussels.

Valutis is particularly scathing of Lithuania´s president Dalia Grybauskaite, a former MEP, who chaired the Vilnius summit and who, he says, "released a tirade of bitter words as she joined the common condemnation of Yanukovich´s decision not to sign the treaty."

Top expert says Ukraine crisis leaves EU neighborhood policy in "tatters"

By: EBR | Monday, April 28, 2014

The echo of November's Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius may have long since faded but, with Ukraine on the brink, the results of this meeting continue to reverberate throughout Europe especially its eastern part.

Senior UK MEP Sir Graham Watson, a former leader of the Alde group in the European parliament, has been particularly scathing of Lithuania, rubbishing claims that its EU presidency was a success. Watson says that "beneath the veneer of respectability" Lithuania "hides a serious problem." "Central to the problem is the person who is sometimes touted as the next head of the Commission - Dalia Grybauskaite."

Europe still "suffering from the aftershocks" of the break-up of the Soviet Union

By: EBR | Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Tensions between the Baltic states, including Lithuania, and Russia have risen markedly since the Ukraine crisis. But EU is being urged to avoid being dragged into an even deeper conflict because of "personal agendas" of some countries that may have a "grudge" against Russia.

In the light of today′s global geopolitics, the "self-contained" pursuit of national interests has become "unrealistic" – in Europe just as much as in China and what is needed now is that both sides should "make the necessary efforts and that both should foster mutual trust."

Senior MEP says EU-China relations are at a "critical" stage

By: EBR | Wednesday, March 26, 2014

With Chinese President Xi Jinping due to visit Brussels on Monday, influential Member of the European Parliament Elmar Brok says EU-China relations are at a "critical" stage and depend on both sides to develop them in fruitful and positive ways.

With this proposal Ecommerce Europe, in order to get rid of fragmentation and separation, proposes the creation of a one-stop-shop for e-commerce by having an integrated and coherent approach covering consumer trust, security, privacy, online payments, e-logistics and sustainability.

Next Commission President must be a digital President

By: EBR | Thursday, March 20, 2014

Ecommerce Europe proposes the creation of a one-stop-shop for e-commerce by having an integrated and coherent approach covering consumer trust, security, privacy, online payments, e-logistics and sustainability

During his opening speech at the Summit the Committee’s President, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, said, "The latest economic forecast shows that though there are signs growth is back in Europe, there are unacceptable disparities between regions. We now need to reconsider our direction making it easier for our cities and regions to shape the strategy and take ownership. If we don′t want to fail again, the EU′s growth strategy needs regional targets, partnerships between all levels of government and sufficient funding to make recovery real for all our citizens".

Committee of the Regions: Too little progress - change now or fail again

By: EBR | Monday, March 10, 2014

In Athens on March 7, the Committee of the Regions was resolute when it warned that delivering the EU's economic growth strategy – "Europe 2020" – was being undermined by a clear lack of involvement of local government.

The issue of statelessness for the "non-citizens" was not properly dealt with in the Accession Agreements. Mr. Henderson stressed that "the EU was created to maintain long-term peace, for economic reasons." It was time now to acknowledge the existence of 15% disenfranchised residents in a member country, and to correct the wrong that had existed for decades.

Russian ethnics discriminated in Baltic EU states

By: EBR | Thursday, March 6, 2014

With the world´s attention currently fixed on events in Ukraine, a relatively little-known issue is starting to rapidly rise up the EU´s political agenda.

Brussels remains concerned about Georgia′s general respect for the rule of law and free press and Kakha Kozhoridze, chairman of the Georgian Association, told the European Business Review website, “In certain instances there might be elements of offence in the conduct of high officials, including the President of Georgia. Therefore, impartial investigation needs to be conducted.”

EU pressed to intervene in row over late Georgian billionaire

By: EBR | Friday, February 28, 2014

The European Union has been urged to intervene in a bitter dispute over parts of the estate of Georgian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili

Business journalists and business lawyers in Warsaw are aware of the behaviour of the Polish tax police which dates back to communist era operations. But the high state authorities admit privately that they are powerless to reform the way some prosecuting officials work.

Tax authorities in Poland branded "unaccountable"

By: EBR | Thursday, February 27, 2014

"Brussels" has expressed growing concern at the "unaccountable" operations of the tax police in Poland.

"The right of Russian speakers to use their own language is curtailed by Latvian law. More than 33 categories of employment are barred to non citizens, including many public offices, the military and police force."

Use of "language police" in EU member state sparks widespread outrage

By: EBR | Tuesday, February 18, 2014

The use of so-called "language police" in Latvian schools has been condemned as "outrageous." A legacy of the Soviet era, this linguistic issue is divisive in a country that is seeking to forge a common identity.

The report, "Unconvential wisdom: an economic analysis of US shale gas and implications for the EU," says that despite its investment in shale gas exploration, America remains heavily dependent on oil imports.

Shale gas "not the answer" to Europe′s energy security needs

By: EBR | Friday, February 14, 2014

A major new report says that shale gas is not the answer to Europe's looming energy crisis

Some, such as Moldova′s ambassador to the US, Igor Munteanu, insists that closer political and economic ties with the EU will provide "great" benefits to the country′s economy and society.

Can Moldova stay on the road to Europe?

By: EBR | Thursday, February 6, 2014

Moldovan citizens should be told about both the benefits and possible risks of closer economic ties with the EU before the country signs trade and association agreements with the bloc.

The report suggests solutions, based on a careful assessment of each member state. They include: Better accountability and integrity standards; control mechanisms in public authorities and dealing with conflicts of interests by officials.

EU commission blasts "breathtaking" scale of corruption across Europe

By: EBR | Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Corruption across the Europe costs €120bn a year, the European Commission has estimated in a new report.

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EU Actually

Far-left and far-right gains throw French mainstream parties into a quandary

By: N. Peter Kramer

In many big towns and cities, Socialists and centre-right Republicans are tempted to make electoral pacts on their outside flanks to beat the opposition in next Sunday’s run off of the French mayoral elections.

Europe

Russia’s Imperial Retreat Is Europe’s Strategic Opportunity

The war in Ukraine is costing Russia its leverage overseas. Across the South Caucasus and Middle East, this presents an opportunity for Europe to pick up the pieces and claim its own sphere of influence.

Business

EU risks losing US soy imports under deforestation rules, Washington warns

The regulation would make the bloc less attractive for American exporters, a senior USDA official said