EP could recommend freezing accession talks with Turkey

The European Parliament has sharply criticized Turkey for violating the rule of law in the annual report on the country, adopted in Brussels on 19 May 2021. The EU-Turkey relations are at a historically low level and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has distanced Turkey from EU values and standards, the report reads. "We urge the other EU institutions to make any positive agenda they might pursue with Turkey conditional upon democratic reform," ​​said rapporteur Nacho Sánchez Amor. The report insists that if Turkey does not reverse this current negative trend, the Commission should recommend that the accession negotiations be formally suspended. The report was adopted by 480 votes in favor, 64 against, with 150 abstentions.

North Macedonia wants to transit gas to Western Europe

The whole world is focused on the topic of investing in renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and digitalization. North Macedonia is also committed to these priorities, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said. In an interview with slobodna.tv, Zaev said that during his last visit to Greece the focus of the meetings was on supporting foreign investors and projects in the spheres of energy, infrastructure and gasification. He pointed out the investment of 370 million euros in the liquefied gas terminal in Alexandroupolis and another 400 million euros in the construction of a gas-fired power plant as the main geostrategic priorities for Skopje. North Macedonia wants to become a gas transit hub from Greece to Serbia, Kosovo and Western Europe, Zaev added.

Joint Russian-Serbian military drill held

Joint Russian-Serbian anti-terrorist tactical exercises have started in Serbia and will continue until May 25th, TASS reported. "Landing with the use of Arbalet parachute systems, advancing towards the facility of illegal military formations, its blocking and destruction" will be carried out during the exercise. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, demonstrations of small arms shooting will also be held. 11 machines and 200 soldiers from the special units of the Russian Western Military District will take part in the drill.

Slovenia’s Prime Minister faces impeachment vote

Less than two months before Slovenia takes over the rotational Presidency of the EU, conservative Prime Minister Janez Janša faces impeachment procedure. Four center-left opposition parties are calling for ousting the prime minister over mismanagement of the country's coronavirus crisis. In addition, Janša was criticized over the suspension of funding for the Slovenian Press Agency, AFP reported. Since the end of April, there have been protests in the capital city of Ljubljana calling for Janša's resignation. The vote is scheduled for the end of May, with the ruling party not having a majority in the 90-seat parliament. In February, the government managed to survive a no-confidence vote due to a sharp split in the left-wing opposition.

Serbia and Kosovo argue over principle of not changing borders

The leaders of the Brdo-Brijuni process, which includes the countries of the Western Balkans, Croatia and Slovenia, have adopted a Declaration on EU enlargement in the region. It says the EU has enough capacity to accept the Western Balkans as new members and that the leaders advocated the acceleration of the enlargement process, including the opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, according to the European Western Balkans website. President of Croatia Zoran Milanović and President of Slovenia Borut Pahor acknowledged that there was opposition at the meeting between Kosovo and Serbia on drafting the declaration. The proposal of Serbia, in which the countries would support the principle of not changing the borders, was not accepted.

Compiled by: Ivo Ivanov

English: Alexander Markov