Serbia is not satisfied with PACE recommendation that Kosovo should become member of the Council of Europe

The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy gave a positive opinion on Kosovo's application for membership in the organization. 31 members voted "for". Two votes “against” came from Serbia, one from Bosnia and Herzegovina and one from Montenegro. Greek representative Alexis Tsipras abstained, BTA reports. At the meeting in Paris, the report of Greek MP Dora Bakoyannis recommending Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe was voted on. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said the decision was "shameful and scandalous", destroying all the principles on which the Council of Europe is based, because it was the first time the acceptance of a territory that was not a member of the United Nations was proposed.

Turkish President Erdogan seeks to regain power in Istanbul

On March 31, over 61.4 million Turkish citizens will vote in the local election. About 12 million of the voters are registered in the metropolis of Istanbul. Over 210,000 voters are people who were born in Bulgaria. Voting is mandatory and there is a fine of 9 euros for those who do not vote. Opposition candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu is running for a second term as mayor of Istanbul. His main rival is the representative of the ruling Justice and Development Party, Murat Kurum. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was actively involved in Kurum's campaign. According to sociologists, the chances of the two politicians are equal and everything will be decided in the second round by the votes of the Kurds. A problem for İmamoğlu is the lack of unity in the opposition.

Elections in Himara block Albania's path to the EU

The issue with convicted Albanian mayor of Greek origin, Freddy Belleri, is not bilateral, but European, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said, quoted by ANA-MPA. The arrest of the elected mayor of the southern Albanian town of Himara, who is from the Greek minority in Albania, has caused a crisis between Greece and Albania. Athens threatened Tirana with blocking its EU path. Belleri was arrested days before the local elections on 14 May 2023. He won the vote from the prison with a 14-vote lead. He was sentenced to 2 years in prison for buying votes. The previous mayor, Yorgo Goro of the ruling Socialist Party, served as mayor of Himara in place of Freddy Belleri, but also resigned after allegations of corruption and an arrest.

When Bosnia and Herzegovina enters the EU, the power in Sarajevo will be sovereign

In Sarajevo, Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said that when Bosnia and Herzegovina became a member of the EU, the country would not need the mediation of international organizations. According to Fajon, the Office of the High Representative of the International Community will not be needed. Her Bosnian counterpart Elmedin Konaković pointed out that then Bosnia and Herzegovina would not need an international factor, neither in the Constitutional Court nor in the Office of the High Representative. "Therefore, it would be good to find out what our obligations are in order for this to happen," Konakovic added.

Danube pollution with plastics and microplastics is alarming

The Danube waters of Romania have been turned into veritable garbage dumps. Tons of waste are thrown on the banks of the river and subsequently end up in the water. The current takes them to the Romanian coast. A year-long study has revealed that the waters of the Danube annually carry 100 tons of plastic from its entry into the Romanian section to its discharge into the Black Sea, Digi 24 TV reported. The caught microplastics under 5 mm is 48.5 tons. Ecologist Alexandra Tomescu has found out that the banks of the Arges River from its source in the Făgăraș Mountains to the Danube have also been turned into garbage dumps.

Compiled by: Ivo Ivanov

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: echrblog.com, EPA, BGNES, observatornews.ro, gov.si, ekathimerini.com