Sat, Feb 11 2012
The government of Montenegro had decided on December 11 2008 to officially apply for European Union membership, Reuters said on December 12 2008.
"By taking this step, Montenegro commits itself to the accession process and building of a united Europe which is a strategic goal in which the founders of the European Community invested their vision and commitment," the government press office said in a statement.
Two government officials said the application from Montenegro, which was originally expected to apply earlier this year, would likely be submitted on December 15 2008, Reuters said two days after the end of the EU leaders summit in Brussels.
According to Reuters, Montenegro's EU application could stimulated the efforts of Albania and Serbia to do the same in the coming months. Montenegro declared independence from the Serbia and Montenegro state in 2006. Since than it has adopted a new constitution and signed and implemented its 'Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, the gateway to candidate status.
Currently there are four EU members on the Balkans: Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia. Croatia applied in 2003 and Macedonia was the last Balkan country to file an application in 2004.
For decades Turkey has been negotiating with the EU on the matter.
EU Council asks European Commission for an opinion on Montenegro's progress towards membership criteria.
Montenegrins vote in early parliamentary elections on March 29 2009 seen as key to facing economic crisis and progressing towards EU
Iranian silver-plated pigeons, African leopard skins and a Chinese bronze yak were among the 70 items sold in an auction of gifts presented to Romania’s former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena.
Airports were also showing signs of better co-ordination and providing passengers with accurate real-time information, compared to previous period of travel disruption, transport commissioner Siim Kallas said.
Viktor Orban defends government's record, new constitution in state-of-the-nation address as he slams European Commission.
PM Donald Tusk invited authors, NGOs, experts and bloggers to a debate on the ACTA copyright agreement, but several key organisations, including the Helsinki Foundation, rejected the invitation claiming that the talks will likely offer no opportunity to discuss concrete issues.
'Dirty Jews' and 'Dirty Nazis' were the most popular chants when two groups clashed in front of Új Színház (New Theatre)
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
, , , .
- , . :)
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained