Newsletter Enlarge EU JULY Edition II

should preserve the balance between the PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN PRIME MINISTER ASKS EU three coalition partners. As it was announced TO ACCELERATE TALKS ON THE in government’s press release, the two STATUS OF THE REGION appointments will be introduced and voted in ` Political parties in Albania can not reach a Parliament on Wednesday. Dimitrov, head of consensus on the question on the future ` During a joint press conference with EU high parliamentary commission on budget and . The first two technical representative Javier Solana on Wednesday finance, will replace Rumen Ovcharov who rounds of voting did not feature candidates. July 11, Kosovo Prime Minister, Agim Ceku, resigned at the beginning of May and During the second round, on July 10, MPs asked the European Union not to wait for a Tacheva, former deputy justice minister, will voted for two candidates, the ruling resolution of UN Security Council and to start replace Georgi Petkanov. [B92,14/07/07] coalition's candidate, Democratic Party (DP) heading towards the recognition of official Bamir Topi, and Former Socialist independence for Kosovo. Javier Solana said Party Chairman, . Again none of that the European Union had one position on POSITIVE SIGNALS FOR MACEDONIA the candidates managed to gain the the issue and wanted UN Security Council to necessary 84 votes. Another attempt by make the final decision about the ` Members of European Parliament suggested to Parliament to elect a successor to outgoing independence of Kosovo. The day before, their state officials in the Council to give President failed on Saturday diplomats from the Security Council confirmed Macedonia date for start of the accession (July 14th), amid a continuing boycott by that western countries were working on a negotiations as soon as possible. European the opposition. This time, the battle was compromise that would let four months to Parliament last week adopted resolution on between Bamir Topi of the ruling Serbians and of Kosovo to reach an Macedonia which will be, according to Belgian Democratic Party and leader of agreement. In case the talks fail, the diplomat, a very clear signal to European the opposition Democratic Aliance Party. resolution project would not contain any commission when deciding on starting The crisis started after an unsuccessful deal threat of independence. [AP, 11/07/07] negotiations. Although, it is not an obligatory between the opposition and the government document, this resolution means that that Albania’s representative to NATO, Macedonia made a step forward, even though General Arjan Zaimi, would be the joint BULGARIA’S RULING COALITION there is still a lot to be done until getting a candidate of the ruling and opposition DECIIDED ON TWO MINISTERIAL date for starting the accession negotiations. In parties. If the parliament can not elect a POSTS order to precisely discuss Macedonian president in five rounds, the country will be Government activities in the next period,

forced to hold general elections within 60 Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski ` Petar Dimitrov, MP from Bulgarian Socialist days, according to the constitution. The and vice Prime Minister Ms. Gabriela Koneska Party, is the new Bulgarian Minister for mandate of current president Moisiu expires will meet in Brussels the EU Enlargement Economy and Energy and Miglena Tacheva on July 24, which means that the election Commissioner Olli Rehn and EU High from Movement of Simeon the Second (NDSV) process must end before this deadline. [ Representative for Common Foreign and is the new Justice Minster of Bulgaria. The SETimes.net, 10/07/07; Albanian news Security Policy, Javier Solana. They will choice that three-partite coalition consisted of 14/07/07; Makfax 15/07/07] discuss the current political situation in Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Movement for Macedonia, political dialogue and the progress Simeon the Second (NDSV) and the Rights of reforms for fighting corruption in and Freedom Party (DPS) made last week Macedonia. [Dnevnik, 16/07/07]

Newsletter 09 – 15 JULY 2007