Disputes in Croatia over sending military personnel to NATO mission in support of Ukraine

NATO Acting Deputy Secretary General Boris Ruge visited Croatia to explain to local MPs about the Alliance's mission in support of Ukraine, BTA has reported. The leaders of Croatia are having heated debates about sending Croatian officers to the mission in Germany aimed at training Ukrainian soldiers. The president and commander of the armed forces, Zoran Milanović, refuses to support the government's proposal for this. Although he condemned Russian aggression against Ukraine and promised humanitarian aid to Kyiv, Milanović said he wanted to "protect Croatia from possible involvement in war". According to conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, this move "tarnished Croatia's credibility in EU and NATO".

Ruge assured that the mission did not make the Alliance a party to the war. Although NSATU will not operate on Ukrainian territory, several officers will go to Ukraine temporarily to coordinate the dispatch of aid from Wiesbaden, where the headquarters of the mission is located, Ruge said, quoted by HINA.

A parliamentary vote to overturn the president's decision was postponed last week due to a lack of the necessary two-thirds majority.

Greece seeks stricter EU migration policy

Greek Migration Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos said that Greece wants a stricter migration policy from the EU amid a potential wave of refugees due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, BTA reported. According to him, approximately 50,000 migrants might enter Greece by the end of the year. "The existing migrant centers on the Greek islands are currently completely full and the camps on the mainland are about 60% full," Panagiotopoulos told Greek private television Action 24. Migrants enter mainly from Turkey, but also via North African routes, as those who come are affected by conflicts in the Middle East. "We certainly see a certain flow from Lebanon, but we have not yet seen the wave that we could expect from a full-scale conflict there," the minister pointed out, adding that the country expects a European solution to the problem.

Half of the victims of human trafficking in Romania are children

According to official data for the past 4 years, half of the victims of human trafficking in Romania are children, which is significantly higher than the European average of 15%, Radio Romania International reports. Sexual exploitation remains one of the main forms of child exploitation, along with begging and forced labour. In this regard, a guide has been prepared to help institutions, teachers, doctors and others recognize such cases at an early stage and intervene adequately, so that victims can receive timely help, protection and support for social reintegration.

Maribor - the best tourist destination this autumn

According to the "European Best Destinations" portal, the second largest city in Slovenia, Maribor, is the best European tourist destination to visit this autumn. In 2023, the site defined the city as the best culinary destination in Europe, BTA recalls. "Maribor is a destination to put at the top of your travel wish-list if you are looking for authenticity, unique human experiences, encounters, discoveries in the heart of Europe," the site writes. It is pointed out that the city is famous for its hospitality and hosts many international cultural and sporting events. Wine lovers will enjoy St. Martin's Day, when many guests from Slovenia and abroad visit the city for traditional celebrations related to young wine. The festival in honor of the saint will be held from November 8 to 11. Its organizers assure that this year's planned events are bigger, better and more appetizing than ever.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

Publication in English: Al. Markov