Romania postpones easing of anti-coronavirus measures

Romania has postponed the easing of measures against the epidemic due to the increased number of Covid-19 cases. Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said developments in recent days had prompted authorities to exercise caution over easing restrictions. Indoor spaces of restaurants, cinemas, halls and indoor pools were expected to open on July 1. So far, the coronavirus crisis has cost Romania 3.1 billion lei, Finance Minister Florin Citu said. The minister complained that the sum did not include the promised but still unpaid rises of salaries of medics in the country.

White House has not given up on talks between Pristina and Belgrade

A planned meeting between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians in Washington on June 27th has failed. This happened after the Special Prosecutor's Office on war crimes of the Kosovo Liberation Army accused President Hashim Thaci and several other politicians in the country for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said he would resign immediately if he was formally held accountable. US President Donald Trump, who wants to mediate the decade-long dispute, has given his special envoy, Richard Grenell, a signal to continue negotiations.

In Greek regions people are dissatisfied with closure of border with Bulgaria

In the Greek region of Evros, people have been protesting against Athens' decision to allow crossing of the Makaza border checkpoint with Bulgaria only in emergencies. The union of hoteliers in the region, as well as the deputy governor, have personally asked Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to open the Makaza border crossing for tourists. The crisis came after Greece obliged all foreigners entering the country to fill in a preliminary electronic declaration, certified by a QR code. So far a reader for the required QR code is present only at the Kulata-Promachonas border checkpoint.

Croatia has opened its border with Serbia

Croatia has opened its border to Serbian citizens, who can enter freely without being a subject to 14-day quarantine. This became possible at midnight on July 1, after the Council of the EU recommended that Member States open their borders to 15 countries, including Serbia. Belgrade opened Serbian borders to citizens of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries immediately after the coronavirus state of emergency was lifted on May 6th.

EU negotiating framework for Albania and North Macedonia is ready

The European Commission has submitted to the Council of the EU the negotiating frameworks for North Macedonia and Albania. Their contents will not be disclosed before approval by the Council. The frameworks are divided into three groups: guiding principles for accession negotiations; negotiation process and procedure tracking the full implementation of EU law in the candidate countries. Unlike the negotiating frameworks with other countries, Brussels added a new negotiating methodology for Skopje and Tirana in March. This means that negotiations can be frozen at any time at the backdrop of developments in European legislation and continued individually according to the progress of each country.

Montenegro legalises same-sex marriage

The Montenegrin parliament has legalized same-sex marriage and this way Montenegro became the first non-EU country in Europe to legally recognize gay marriage. The law was adopted by 42 votes in favour out of 81 members of parliament. In July 2019, the parliament rejected the bill. Four MPs representing national minorities, who are part of Montenegro's ruling coalition, did not support the law. The majority of the opposition was also against. The adoption of the law was welcomed by the country's leaders, who assessed it as a confirmation of European values. Montenegro is the 32nd UN member to recognize same-sex partnership.

Compiled by: Ivo Ivanov

English: Alexander Markov