Western Balkan countries increase security measures after 2 mass shootings in Serbia

Western Balkans countries increased security measures Friday after two mass shootings killed at least 17 people in less than 48 hours.

EU Not Complete Without Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Balkans - Von Der Leyen

The European Union is not complete without Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia and the Balkan countries, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

Serbia says ready for Kosovo compromise in view of EU membership

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Wednesday that his country is ready for a compromise over Kosovo since resolving a dispute with its former province is key to its European Union bid.

Los países de la UE muestran división sobre la ampliación hacia los Balcanes

Los países de la Unión Europea se mostraron hoy divididos respecto a la perspectiva abierta por Bruselas para los Balcanes Occidentales, una propuesta para seis Estados candidatos o potenciales a formar parte del bloque que es insuficiente para algunos y poco realista para otros.

Vienne propose à Bruxelles d'envoyer les réfugiés en Géorgie

Le chef de la diplomatie autrichienne a proposé d'implanter des centres d'accueil des réfugiés en dehors de l'UE, par exemple en Géorgie ou dans les Balkans occidentaux.

No country thinks of Turks as invaders: Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that far from being seen as invaders, people in Syria, Iraq, other Middle Eastern countries, North Africa, and the Balkans remember Turkish people from history as being “truehearted”.

EU enlargement process "will not stop" - commissioner

Johannes Hahn said in Vienna on Friday that the outcome of the British referendum "must not and will not stop the process of EU enlargement."

Greece recalls Vienna envoy for consultations in migrant spat

Greece said on Thursday it was recalling its ambassador in Vienna for consultations, in an ongoing spat with Austria over the handling of Europe's migration crisis.

Croatia expects Balkan route countries to reach agreement on migrants

Croatian Interior Minister Vlaho Orepic said on Wednesday he expected an agreement on migrants to be reached between the Balkan route countries on Thursday.

Top UN official on refugees welcomes EU agreement on plan for Western Balkans migration route

UN, 26 October 2015 – As European leaders met this week to hammer out a 17-point plan of action on the Western Balkans migration route for refugees and migrants fleeing Syria and other strife-torn regions, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees commended the fact that a consensus had been reached.

EU: 100,000 Places for Migrants in Reception Centers

The European Union -- in an effort to ease the burden on Greece and eastern European countries caused by the influx of migrants --says it will set up 100,000 places in reception centers in Greece and along the migrants' route through the Balkans.

EU Concerned About Influx of Undocumented Balkan Migrants

The European Union is concerned about the rising flow of undocumented migrants from the Balkans as it continues to struggle with tens of thousands of refugees fleeing conflicts in the Middle East, a diplomatic source in Brussels said.

Serbian FM visits Kosovo first time since 1999 war

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic Wednesday visited Pristina, capital of the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo, marking the first visit to Kosovo by a Serbian official since the 1999 war.

EP resolution is offensive and disturbing: "Either hypocrisy of incredible proportions, or a desire to harm Serbia" (Aleksandar Vučić)

BELGRADE -- The EP resolution passed on Thursday is "offensive and disturbing, motivated by either hypocrisy or a desire to harm Serbia," says Aleksandar Vučić.

The European Union's support to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina after the floods

European Commission, MEMO, Brussels, 23 May 2014:

Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are struggling with overwhelming floods which have also had a serious impact on large parts of Croatia. Since the start of the emergency, the European Union has been showing solidarity with the affected countries and will continue to help them overcome and recover from the dramatic situation.

EU steps up assistance for flood victims in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as Commissioner Georgieva visits the region

European Commission, Press release, Brussels, 20 May 2014:

The number of Member States which have offered assistance to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina has risen to nineteen in response to record-breaking floods which have caused widespread devastation. The European Commission is coordinating EU assistance, co-financing transportation costs and producing satellite imagery of the affected areas.

UN humanitarian chief rallies support for flood-hit Balkan regions

 UN, 19 May 2014 – Deeply concerned by the devastating floods in the Balkans – days of rainfall have reportedly submerged entire villages and triggered landslides across the region – the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator is rallying the international community to provide speedy assistance that can help save lives and put people on the road to recovery.

In a statement issued earlier today, Valerie Amos, who is also the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, expressed concern about the flooding that has struck Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.

Aleksandar Vučić: Danger still not over. -"The end is not close, but we have more hope today"

BELGRADE - Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday that the situation in Serbia was somewhat better, but that the threat from floods would remain over the next two days, mostly along the river Sava.

"The end is not close, but we have more hope today than we had yesterday," he said at a meeting of the national headquarters for emergencies.

The stabilisation has unfortunately occurred as the result of the Sava overflowing in other countries of the region (Bosnia-Herzegovina), but another rise in the water level will happen by Wednesday and that time should be used to prepare defences, he stated.

Überschwemmungen auf dem Balkan: Das Wasser geht zurück - das Leid bleibt

Das verheerende Balkan-Hochwasser fließt langsam ab, doch nun steigt die Zahl der Toten. Mindestens 40 Menschen sind bisher ums Leben gekommen. Aus Serbien werden 16 Opfer gemeldet, in Bosnien starben nach Behördenangaben bisher mindestens 27 Menschen, in Kroatien ertrank ein Mensch.

Allein in der nordbosnischen Stadt Doboj brachten Einsatzkräfte 20 Tote in die städtische Leichenhalle, wie der Bürgermeister mitteilte. In der Stadt stand das Wasser stellenweise noch bis zu vier Meter hoch.

Serbia evacuates 16,300 people from flood-stricken regions

About 78,000 houses in 13 municipal districts remain without electricity...

Serbia has evacuated 16,300 people from the flood-stricken areas in Obrenovac, Baric, Sremska Mitrovica, from the outskirts of Pozarevac, etc. People are being accommodated in schools, dormitories and institutes. Policemen, firefighters and a huge number of volunteers are involved in the rescue operations, the Serbian Interior Ministry reports.  


About 78,000 houses in 13 municipal districts remain without electricity; 2,060 facilities have been under-flooded and another 1,763 are under threat of inundation. The relief aid collected by the Serbian Interior Ministry has been distributed flooded and flood threatened areas.