Austria, Czechia and Slovakia: North Macedonia’s path to the EU goes through constitutional changes

Alexander Schallenberg, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria, Jan Lipavský , Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czechia and Miroslav Wlachovský, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia visited North Macedonia on behalf of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. The aim of the visit was to support North Macedonia on its path to the European Union and to convey the EU's official positions on the European integration of North Macedonia. "The sooner the constitutional changes are made, the faster North Macedonia can start negotiations", Jan Lipavský noted. "We are not in Skopje to interfere in the internal affairs of the country. Prolonging the constitutional amendments means delaying the path to the EU. It is up to you whether you will go forward. I believe that the road has to be travelled and we are waiting for the moment when the Macedonian language and culture will be part of the European community”, said Alexander Schallenberg. North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski replied that it is time the discussion on the constitutional changes and the inclusion of Bulgarians in the basic law started in the parliament.

Turkiye's company Baykar starts construction of Bayraktar drone factory in Ukraine

The Turkish company Baykar has already started constructing a factory in Ukraine to produce Bayraktar drones, Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin said. The agreement to build the Bayraktar production plant in Ukraine was signed in February 2022. In August last year it transpired that Baykar had already purchased a plot of land. The factory will span 30,000 square meters and will employ 300 Ukrainian engineers and technicians. According to the company's CEO, Haluk Bayraktar, the production of Bayraktar Akinci and Bayraktar TB2 drones is set to begin in 2025 and the total investment into the project would amount to around USD 95 million. During Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to Turkiye on July 7, Ukraine signed a memorandum of cooperation with Turkiye in the sphere of strategic industries, including the production of drones.

Romania’s Social Minister resigns amid elderly home scandal

Romania’s Minister of Labor and Social Protection Marius-Constantin Budăi resigned following revelations of inhumane treatment at care homes for the elderly, the BTA informed. The revelations led to a series of inspections in nursing homes, homes for the disabled and children deprived of parental care. Last week, Romania’s authorities rescued more than 100 elderly people from several nursing homes in Voluntari, Ilfov County, who had been tortured, kept hungry, forced to work and deprived of food and medicine. 56 people were taken to hospitals in Bucharest. Romanian media described these centres as “horror asylums”. President Klaus Iohannis described the situation as a national disgrace.

City of Dreams Mediterranean Opens in Cyprus 

Europe's first integrated resort has officially opened its doors in Limassol. The City of Dreams Mediterranean is expected to attract an additional 300,000 visitors to Cyprus annually. The construction of the complex near the coastal city of Limassol lasted 5 years. It was delayed due to problems related to the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the BNR's correspondent in Cyprus Branislava Bobanac reported The complex comprises a casino which spans 7,500 square meters, a luxury hotel, numerous entertainment venues and a shopping street with designer stores. The investment is by a Hong Kong company and is to the tune of EUR 650 million.