Serbian citizens trust Russia and China more than the EU: survey

59% of Serbian citizens trust Russia, 57% of respondents trust China and 38% have a positive view of the European Union, reads data of a Special Eurobarometer survey on perceptions of EU enlargement in member states and candidate countries, reported by BTA.

The results also show that, except for Serbia, the population of the Western Balkan countries generally supports the process of European integration. Support for EU accession is notably high in Albania (91%) and North Macedonia (69%). In contrast, Serbia displays the lowest support for EU accession in the region at 33%.

45% of surveyed Serbian citizens say they do not believe Serbia will ever become part of the EU — the highest figure in the Western Balkans. 26% think accession will take between five and fifteen more years, and only 10% believe membership is achievable within the next five years.

Teachers protest in Romania on the eve of the new school year

Several hundred teachers from various regions of Romania protested in front of the government building at Victory Square in Bucharest. They chanted "Resignation!" and filled the area with the sounds of vuvuzelas, whistles and drums, according to BTA. The protesters held signs reading:"Bolojan, leave us alone, go home with Daniel David (Minister of Education and Research)", "We defend the Romanian school", "Destroying the education system in Romania – high treason", etc.

A protest march involving 30,000 people is planned for Monday, September 8, when the new school year begins in Romania. The protests were sparked by measures introduced by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s government. These include increasing teacher’s weekly teaching hours, raising the number of students per class, merging educational units, etc.

The demographic crisis in Greece leads to the closure of hundreds of schools

According to data from the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, hundreds of schools across Greece are closing due to a lack of children. The reason lies in the severe demographic problem. Over the course of seven years, the number of students has decreased by 150,000, reported BNR’s correspondent in Greece Katya Peeva.

The demographic problem mainly affects primary education, with the situation being particularly dramatic on the islands. However, schools are also closing in major cities, according to experts from the Ministry of Education.

In the Attica region alone — home to nearly half of Greece’s population— 77 schools have been closed this year. 324 fewer primary schools and 358 fewer kindergartens will open this year.

According to a study, the main causes of the demographic crisis are low incomes, lack of prospects and security for young families and the housing crisis.

Canadian company acquires mines for silver and other precious metals in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Canadian company Dundee Precious Metals (DPM) announced that it has successfully completed the acquisition of the mines near the town of Vareš in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, where silver and other precious metals are extracted, HINA reported, as cited by BTA.

This follows DPM's purchase of the UK-based company Adriatic Metals, which held the concession for operating the mines in Vareš. The value of the deal has not been disclosed, but it is believed that the Canadian company paid between USD 1 billion and USD 1.25 billion for the acquisition.

HINA notes that this is one of the largest mining deals in the Balkans, and also highlights that the Canadian mining company has over 20 years of experience on the peninsula, having developed precious metals projects in Bulgaria and Serbia.

Turkiye is the world's third-largest producer of tomatoes

Turkiye’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli, participated in the tomato harvest in Ankara’s Ayash neighborhood. He noted that last year Turkiye produced 14.6 million tons of tomatoes, emphasizing that the country ranks third in the world in the production of this vegetable and that it is one of its main export products, reported the specialized agricultural site sinor.bg.

"Considering the average value for 10 years, we export approximately 535,000 tons annually", Minister Yumakli said: "Per capita consumption is also high, our nation loves tomatoes", added Turkiye’s Minister of Agriculture Ibrahim Yumakli.

Published and translated by Kostadin Atanasov

Photos: EPA/BGNES; BTA; ekathimerini.com, miningweekly.com, Facebook/İbrahim Yumaklı