SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Addressing an EU enlargement summit Tuesday, Bulgaria’s leader pledged his support for the Western Balkan countries on the path of being integrated into the European Union.
Bulgaria is one of the EU’s 27 nations. Leaders of EU countries and of membership candidates Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Kosovo discussed their accession prospects at a so-called Berlin Process summit jointly chaired by Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
Two action plans were adopted at the summit — one a common regional market and the other a green agenda to unlock the renewable energy potential of the region while enhancing citizens’ health. The latter would follow the same direction as the EU’s Green Deal.
Both declarations, which aim to further align the Western Balkans with EU norms and standards, were signed online during the summit.
“Let’s not forget that the Western Balkans together represent a market of about 20 million people. This will give prospects to young people who are emigrating at a rapid pace and will seek an adequate response to the demographic crisis, regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations,” Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said.
The Berlin Process, launched by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2014 to support the European integration of the Western Balkan countries, is focused on three main areas: economy and connectivity, reconciliation and good neighborly relations, and security.
The next summit will be held next year in the German capital, Merkel told participants at the end of the forum.
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation for altering an email that the Justice Department relied on during its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lashed out Friday at rival Republicans who tried to repeal his statewide mask mandate, saying killing the order would be a ridiculous move comparable to abolishing speed limits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As some conservatives in South Carolina celebrated getting a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state past a legislative barrier and likely becoming law, they said they are not finished trying to end all abortions.
A Moscow court on Friday put the brother and several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest for two months as authorities sought to stymie more protests over the jailing of the top Kremlin foe.