15:43 EU Central Time 09.05.2008

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France pledges not to hinder Turkey's EU accession process

07.05.2008 - 09:27 CET

France – one of staunchest opponents of Turkey's EU membership bid – has said it will not hinder the country's accession process during its time at the head of the 27-nation bloc, starting in July. Meanwhile, the EU has called on Ankara to carry out more reforms.

Albania told to implement reforms before winning closer EU ties

06.05.2008 - 09:09 CET

The EU on Monday said it was too early to set a date for the next step in Albania's EU integration process, demanding instead that promised reforms be implemented first.

Bosnia angered by signing of EU-Serbia deal

30.04.2008 - 17:34 CET

The signing of a pre-accession deal between the EU and Serbia has been criticised by Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has so far not had the privilege of being offered a similar deal.

EU attempts to woo Serbia with pre-accession deal

29.04.2008 - 17:44 CET

With just over a week to go until what is being billed as decisive elections in Serbia, the EU on Tuesday sent a strong political signal to the western Balkan country that its future belongs in the European Union.

Russia and Serbia relations top EU foreign ministers' meeting

29.04.2008 - 09:33 CET

EU foreign ministers are gathering in Luxembourg to overcome their differences over Russia, as long-delayed partnership talks between the bloc and Moscow have hit another stumbling block with Lithuania refusing to approve the launch.

Name issue should not hinder Macedonia's EU bid, MEPs say

23.04.2008 - 17:42 CET

MEPs on Wednesday called on both Macedonia and Greece to solve a 17-year-old row over the Balkan country's name suggesting that the dispute should no longer be a hindrance to Skopje's attempts to join international organisations, such as the EU.

Bosnia-EU agreement lost in translation

23.04.2008 - 17:41 CET

The European Union will not sign an agreement on closer ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina this month as originally hoped due to translation issues, diplomatic sources have indicated. Some member states have refused to sign the document in its English version.

Croatia takes further step towards EU membership

UN prosecutor wants more progress from Serbia

EU urged to press Croatia on war crimes prosecution

Barroso calls on Turkey to carry out more reforms

MEP report seeks to put brake on further EU enlargement

EU 'hopes' to open accession talks with Macedonia this year

Spring Survey 2008

Turkish parliament passes reform of controversial law

30.04.2008 - 09:24 CET

The Turkish parliament on Tuesday approved a reform of a controversial law which sets limits on freedom of the speech by criminalizing insults to "Turkishness". The reform had long been called for by the EU.

Netherlands prepared for 'creative solution' on Serbia

25.04.2008 - 11:01 CET

The Netherlands has indicated readiness to allow some EU concessions to Serbia ahead of early elections in the country, but remains opposed to signing a pre-accession deal with Belgrade unless it cooperates fully with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

Kosovo eyes EU membership in 2015

24.04.2008 - 09:29 CET

Two months after unilaterally seceding from Serbia, Kosovo has made it clear it wants to join the EU, setting 2015 as its accession goal.

France takes further step towards scrapping enlargement referendums

24.04.2008 - 09:23 CET

The French government on Wednesday approved plans for constitutional reform that would scrap the obligation for France to hold a referendum on any further enlargement of the EU after Croatia.

Turkey may be fit for EU in a decade, enlargement chief says

22.04.2008 - 09:24 CET

If it remains fully committed to the reform path, Turkey could join the European Union in 10 to 15 years, EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn has said. He has also announced that two more chapters out of the 35-chapter accession package are likely to be opened in June.

EU wants 'political stability' in Ukraine before closer ties

29.01.2008 - 09:19 CET

Ukraine needs to show political stability, as well as more political and economic reforms, in order for the country to win closer relations with the EU, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Monday.

Eurovision winner's links to Serb radical worries Brussels

24.01.2008 - 17:29 CET

The EU has expressed concern after a Serbian Eurovision Song Contest winner appointed as European ambassador for intercultural dialogue has shown support for the country's Radical candidate in the presidential elections.

US president reiterates support for Turkey's EU bid

09.01.2008 - 09:26 CET

The United States has reiterated its support for full Turkish membership of the European Union, with President George W. Bush saying the move would be "in the interest of peace".

[Comment] Laying low on Turkey

05.11.2007 - 09:22 CET

Ankara is up for a bumpy and long ride, but the verdict on Turkey's feasibility as a potential member state of the EU has been already reached, writes Fabrizio Tassinari, Visiting Scholar at the Johns Hopkins University, ahead of this week's publication of the second progress report on Turkey's EU membership bid.