EU to extend sanctions against Turkey over oil and gas drilling in Mediterranean

EU leaders are giving a green light to extend sanctions against Turkey over its oil and gas drilling in the Mediterranean. This is stated in a final declaration from the EU summit in Brussels, BTA reported. "Unfortunately, Turkey has taken unilateral actions and provocations and sharpened its rhetoric against the EU, member states and European leaders," the document reads.

At the October summit, European leaders proposed a "positive EU-Turkey political agenda", including trade and customs benefits and more money to deal with Syrian refugees on Turkish territory if Ankara stops "illegal activities" in the Eastern Mediterranean, the document reminds.

Albania’s Minister of Interior resigns over killing of young man

Albania’s Minister of Interior Sandër Lleshi resigned several days ago over a police officer’s killing of a twenty five-year-old man who violated the curfew introduced in this country in connection with the Covid-19 epidemic.

A young man was killed on Tuesday in what police described as excessive use of force by an officer, Reuters reports. Initially, Albania’s Police announced that the man named Klodian Rasha was shot after not responding to police calls to stop and that he had a weapon in his hands. Later, it announced that the man did not wear a weapon. The accident triggered a wave of protests in front of the Interior Ministry demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Lleshi. Several police officers and protesters were wounded during the demonstrations.

Romania’s President Iohannis to start consultations on forming new cabinet

Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis will start consultations on Monday (December 14) on forming a new cabinet after the Parliamentary elections held on December 6, Ziare information portal informs. “Lowest voter turnout since the beginning of the democratic changes in this country was registered during the latest elections. Two-thirds of the voters preferred not to cast their ballots at all”, Dana Alexandra Scherle noted in a comment for Deutsche Welle. The opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) won unexpectedly the elections earning nearly 30% of the votes, followed by the ruling National Liberal Party (PNL) and Save Romania Union and Plus parties. The liberals and representatives of other right-wing political forces announced that they would try to form a coalition cabinet without the Social Democratic Party.

Vjosa Osmani: Peace is possible only when truth is spoken and accepted

Acting President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani has stated that dialogue with Serbia can only take place after mutual recognition of the two countries, BTA reported. Osmani said this at a session of the Kosovo Parliament in the presence of relatives of people who went missing during the war in the late 1990s. "Peace is possible only when the truth is spoken and accepted," Osmani said further.

During the latest talks between Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels, no convergence of positions was reached again, the Kosovo government announced after talks mediated by EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajčak.

Greece lifts diesel prices to stimulate purchase of electric cars

The Greek authorities plan to raise price of diesel fuel to stimulate the purchase of electric cars, BNR’s correspondent ion Greece Katya Peeva annouced. The Greek Ministry of Energy has announced that from January 1, the price of diesel will increase by 4 eurocents. Following the increase, an extra 100m euros are expected to go to this country‘s state budget in one year. The money will be used for renewable energy projects. The new "green fee" is also expected to encourage the use of electric cars. The state encourages the purchase of electric cars through covering about 25% of their cost.

Written by: Miglena Ivanova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

Photos: Facebook / EU Council, Sandër Lleshi, Vjosa Osmani, BGNES