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In a series of reports on countries wanting to join the bloc's ranks, the EU’s executive branch recommended that war-ravaged Ukraine should be permitted to open membership talks, once it’s addressed some shortfalls. “Moldova is the subject of constant destabilization efforts against its democracy,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. For 20 years, the prospect of EU membership has been a powerful driver of pro-democratic reform in aspiring countries. The commission said that it should only start membership talks after more progress is made. The country started its EU membership talks in 2005, but they have ground to a halt in recent years.

Persons: it’s, “, Ursula von der Leyen, ”, von der Leyen, Turkey's, backsliding Organizations: —, European Union, European Commission, Georgia, EU, Kosovo –, Kyiv “ Locations: BRUSSELS, — Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, Brussels, Hungary, Slovakia, Balkans, Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnian, Turkey, Europe

Lufthansa reported third-quarter adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of 1.47 billion euros ($1.56 billion), up 31% year-on-year and slightly above average expectations for 1.43 billion in an analyst consensus published on the company's website. Lufthansa said bookings for the fourth quarter were up by double-digit percentages year-on-year. Costs were 0.9% lower than the same quarter last year despite rising inflation, while net profits were at 1.2 billion euros. Next year, Lufthansa expects the amount of seating capacity available to fliers to increase further to around 95% of pre-pandemic levels. Capacity will increase to 91% of pre-pandemic levels in the fourth quarter, they said.

Persons: Carsten Spohr, Bernstein, Alex Irving, Maria Sheahan, Joanna Plucinska, Kirsti Knolle Organizations: Lufthansa, Thomson Locations: BERLIN

☆ Lonely Planet’s top places to go in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Maureen Ohare | Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Get your wishlist fired up, Lonely Planet just revealed its 50 top travel destinations for the year ahead. The travel publishing empire turns 50 this year, and its bumper Best in Travel 2024 list is expanded across five categories: top countries, regions, cities, sustainable travel destinations and best-value locations. The “wild beauty” of South Africa also gets a nod, with Lonely Planet recommending visitors check out the country’s “impressive crop of ecolodges” committed to protecting Earth’s biodiversity. The underrated American Midwest is the top tip here: in cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit, “you’ll find old warehouses transformed into art studios, new eco design hotels and many Michelin-starred restaurants,” says Lonely Planet. Says Lonely Planet, “Here you’ll find the highest sea cliffs in Europe and miles of unspoilt coastal hiking trails.”Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2024India: A big country with a whole lot to love, including Gadisar lake in Rajasthan.

Persons: CNN —, Lucia, Torres del, ecolodges ”, Babanango, “, ”, you’ll, Ilan Shacham, Ireland País Vasco, Português, daniel Organizations: CNN, Lonely, Lonely Planet, Kenyan, Michelin, Getty, Mongolia India Morocco Chile Benin Mexico Uzbekistan Pakistan Croatia St, Regions, CNN Cities Nairobia, Chile Greenland, Lithuania Eco, France Egypt Ikaria, Greece Algeria Southern Lakes, Central Otago , New Zealand Locations: Mongolia, Mexico, Croatia, St, Benin, Uzbekistan, City, Nairobi, Paris, Prague, Czech, “, Patagonia, Torres del Paine, Spain, Valencia, Barcelona, South Africa, South, KwaZulu Natal, Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Algeria, Northern Africa, Europe, Balkans, Slovenia, Bosnia, Hercegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Adriatic, Donegal, Ireland’s, India, Rajasthan, Mongolia India Morocco Chile Benin Mexico Uzbekistan Pakistan Croatia, Lucia Macedonia, South Australia Donegal, Ireland, Spain Southern Thailand Swahili, Tanzania Montana, USA, Austria, Kenya Paris, France Montreal, Canada Mostar, Herzegovina Philadelphia , Pennsylvania Manaus, Brazil Jakarta, Indonesia Prague, Czech Republic Izmir, Turkey Kansas City , Missouri, Spain Patagonia, Argentina, Chile, Chile Greenland Wales, Santiago Palau Hokkaido, Japan Ecuador Baltic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, South Africa Poland, USA Poland Nicaragua Danube Limes, Bulgaria Normandy, France Egypt, Greece Algeria Southern, Central Otago , New

☆ A 'festering' powder keg in Europe is lurking in the shadow of the Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"Consequently, the Serbia-Kosovo discord, while festering, finds itself languishing in the shadow of these more immediate and globally resonant challenges." It highlights a major challenge for policymakers: providing ongoing conflicts with near-constant attention, while still monitoring other strategically significant risks. "The fact remains that the Balkan region is a powder keg, where even minor incidents can swiftly spiral into broader conflicts. History has underscored the adage that what happens in the Balkans, doesn't stay in the Balkans," the CEPA's Hartwell said. "The U.S., EU and U.K. do not have the diplomatic and military bandwidth to respond to several conflicts of strategic interest.

Persons: Stringer, Leon Hartwell, Hartwell, Banjska, doesn't, Majda Ruge Organizations: NATO, Kosovo Force, KFOR, Afp, Getty, Center for, CNBC, European Union, Anadolu Agency, European Council, Foreign Relations Locations: Mitrovica, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Balkans, Europe, Serbia, Kosovo, Palestine, Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Southern, Eastern Europe, Moscow, Brussels, Washington, Serbs, Kosovan, U.S, EU, Pristina, destabilising Kosovo, Yugoslavia

☆ EU to Help Western Balkans Reforms With 6 Billion Euro Package - Von Der Leyen
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SARAJEVO (Reuters) - The European Union plans to help the countries of the Western Balkans to pursue reforms needed for integration with the wealthy bloc with 6 billion euros investment, the EU executive's president Ursula von der Leyen said in Skopje on Monday. North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina all need to seize the "window of opportunity" for the enlargement of the EU and work to align their standards to those in the bloc, von der Leyen said. Von der Leyen said the EU's new growth plan for the region would include the opening of its common market to the Western Balkan countries in areas such as free movement of goods and services, transport and energy. "These reforms will come with investment," von der Leyen said during a news conference with North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski at the start of her Western Balkans tour. "We have proposed a 6 billion euro ($6.34 billion) package for Western Balkan partners," she said.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Dimitar Kovacevski, Daria Sito, Alison Williams, Ed Osmond Organizations: European Union, EU, ., North Macedonia's, Western Balkan, Brussels Locations: SARAJEVO, Balkans, Skopje, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, EU, North Macedonia

☆ EU to help Western Balkans reforms with 6 billion euro package - von der Leyen
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SARAJEVO, Oct 30 (Reuters) - The European Union plans to help the countries of the Western Balkans pursue reforms needed for integration with the wealthy bloc with an investment of 6 billion euros ($6.4 billion), the EU executive's president, Ursula von der Leyen, said in Skopje on Monday. North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina all need to seize the "window of opportunity" for the enlargement of the EU and work to align their standards to those in the bloc, von der Leyen said. Von der Leyen said the EU's new growth plan for the region would include the opening of its common market to the Western Balkan countries in areas such as free movement of goods and services, transport and energy. It also urged the countries to open a common regional market, and pursue it with necessary reforms. "These reforms will come with investment," von der Leyen said during a press conference with North Macedonia Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski at the start of her Western Balkans tour.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Dimitar Kovacevski, Daria Sito, Fatos Bytyci, Alison Williams, Ed Osmond, Mark Porter Organizations: European Union, EU, ., North Macedonia, Brussels, Thomson Locations: SARAJEVO, Balkans, Skopje, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, EU, North Macedonia, Pristina

☆ One dead, eight injured as car carrying migrants crashes in Hungary
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A crashed car carrying migrants is seen near Asotthalom, Hungary, near the Serbian border, October 27, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Oct 27 (Reuters) - One person died and eight people including four children were injured in Hungary near the Serbian border on Friday when a car carrying migrants crashed with a truck, authorities said. Renata Papp, mayor of Asotthalom village where the accident occurred, said on Facebook the car driver, a smuggler, was lifted from the wreckage by another smuggler and whisked away in another car. The migrants, predominantly from the Middle East and Afghanistan, enter Hungary from Serbia despite a steel fence that Prime Minister Viktor Orban had built after the 2015 migration crisis that rocked Europe. Reporting by Krisztina Than and Krisztina Fenyo; Editing by Andrew CawthorneOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stringer, Renata Papp, Jozsef Hanga, Viktor Orban, Krisztina, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Asotthalom, Hungary, Serbian, Serbia, Balkans, Slovakia, Austria, East, Afghanistan, Europe

EU leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have visited the Middle East to express solidarity with Israel and bolster diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict spiralling into a regional war. "These developments require our immediate attention, without distracting us from our continued support to Ukraine." The EU and its member countries have provided billions of euros in assistance to Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February last year. At the summit, the leaders will have their first debate on that budget package, which diplomats expect to be contentious. "It's hard to ask for more money for the EU budget when national budgets are getting squeezed," said one EU diplomat.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Charles Michel, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Julia Payne, Philip Blenkinsop, Jan Strupczewski, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Union, Ukraine, Hamas, EU, Diplomats, French, European Council, Kyiv, year's, European Commission, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Brussels, Palestinian, Gaza, Europe, Ukraine, Russian, United States, EU

☆ 'Positions Not Matching Yet' as EU Leaders Fight for Slice of Budget Pie
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The bloc's executive proposed that member states chip in more to the shared coffers to provide 50 billion euros to Ukraine and spend another 15 billion on migration. Budgetary decisions require unanimity and divisions were on display on Thursday as the bloc's 27 national leaders arrived for a summit in Brussels. On the bloc's eastern flank, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that - beyond supporting Ukraine - joint spending should grow for improving EU defence capabilities. Lithuania said 50 billion euros for Ukraine was not enough. Orban's comments come as his government is trying to unlock billions in aid envisaged for Hungary in the EU budget but blocked by the European Commission over rule of law concerns.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska, Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS, Alexander de Croo, Kaja Kallas, Kyriakos, Hungary's Viktor Orban, Orban, that's, Ireland's Leo Varadkar, Olaf Scholz, Marine Strauss, Krisztina, Tassilo Hummel, Rene Maltezou, Jan Strupczewski, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: European Union, EU, Belgian, European Commission, Diplomats Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Brussels, Estonian, Lithuania, Greece, East, Africa, Budapest, Hungary, Austria, Western Balkans, Germany

☆ Opinion: A path to peace in Middle East is possible. Here’s how
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Opinion Miriam Sapiro | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

She has served at the National Security Council, at the State Department as a negotiator for the Bosnia Peace Accords, and as Deputy US Trade Representative. A similarly firm hand — and robust US leadership — will also be necessary for any peace deal to be forged in the Middle East. Similarly, Hamas’ current leadership would certainly not be welcome at the table should Mideast peace talks resume. That should compel them to help increase isolation of Hamas as well as play an active and useful role in future peace talks. With the key players thinking strategically and acting tactically — as eventually happened in Bosnia — peace in the Middle East may have a chance.

Persons: Miriam Sapiro, Miriam Sapiro Sard, Biden’s, Bosnians, —, ’, Madeleine Albright, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu’s Organizations: Center for Strategic, International Studies, National Security Council, State Department, Accords, US Trade Representative, CNN CNN, Hamas, US, UN, Bosnian, Bosnian Serbs, —, Belgrade, West Bank, Bosnia Contact, EU, United Arab, CNN, Twitter, Palestinian, European Union, Bank, Authority Locations: Bosnia, Israel, Balkans, Yugoslavia, Bosnian, Washington, Dayton , Ohio, — Serbia, Croatia, Dayton, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, United States, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, America, Iran, Oslo Accords, Ramallah

☆ Ukraine's EU membership bid to be assessed in report due on Nov. 8
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The assessment will come in an annual report by the Brussels-based European Commission detailing how far countries looking to join the 27-nation bloc have advanced in meeting the necessary economic, legal and other criteria. A decision is then expected during a Dec.14-15 summit of EU leaders on whether to launch formal membership negotiations with Ukraine, a top priority for Kyiv as it fights the Russian invasion. Of the other hopefuls, an EU official said this week a similar recommendation could come for Moldova, where the bloc is also engaged in a geopolitical tug-of-war with Russia. Any enlargement decisions require unanimous backing of all the bloc's members, something that might be difficult to achieve for countries in the Western Balkans, according to EU officials and diplomats. Budget decisions also require unanimity in the bloc and some member countries have asked to also raise spending on tackling natural disasters like wildfires and floods, sources said.

Organizations: Commission Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Kyiv, Russian, Hungary, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Western Balkans

EU officials also drafted a statement in support of the proposal for an EU summit later this week, although they cautioned the text could still change in the coming days. "There's a vital need to get water, to get food, to get medical supplies into Gaza," said Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin. Some questioned whether a pause would impede Israel's right to defend itself as it seeks to destroy Hamas positions in Gaza. But Israel has the right to self-defence," said Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky questioned "how such a ceasefire should be established with a partner inside Gaza, where the Hamas terrorist organisation now is controlling the situation".

Persons: Josep Borrell, Juan Medina, Antonio Guterres, Borrell, Micheal Martin, Annalena Baerbock, Israel, Alexander Schallenberg ., Jan Lipavsky, Andrew Gray, Bart Meijer, Jan Strupczewski, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Alison Williams Organizations: European Union for Foreign Affairs, REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, U.N, United Nations, Irish, Austrian, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights BRUSSELS, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Egypt, Rafah, Luxembourg, France, Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, Germany, Alexander Schallenberg . Czech

☆ Slovenia deploys police on borders with Croatia, Hungary
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OBREZJE, Slovenia, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Slovenia on Saturday deployed police on border crossings with Croatia and Hungary to prevent potential security threats, leading to queues as travellers waited to have their documents checked. The Slovenian government had on Friday decided to introduce temporary border controls until Oct. 30, following its neighbour Italy which introduced controls on its border crossing with Slovenia to improve home security. Police were deployed on 14 border crossings with Croatia and Hungary, Slovenian news agency STA reported. Travellers queued to have their papers checked at the Obrezje crossing on the border with Croatia, where checks had not taken place since Jan. 1 this year when Croatia joined the control-free Schengen Area. Reporting by Antonio Bronic; Writing by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by David HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: queued, Fjacko, Antonio Bronic, Ivana Sekularac, David Holmes Organizations: Saturday, Slovenian, Police, Croatia, Croatian, Thomson Locations: OBREZJE, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Slovenian, Zagreb, Europe, Balkans

☆ EU Envoy Tells Kosovo and Serbia to Return to Dialogue
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

PRISTINA (Reuters) - The European Union Special Envoy Miroslav Lajcak urged Serbia and Kosovo to return to dialogue on normalising ties to avoid a repeat of last month's violence in northern Kosovo. Police recaptured the monastery after a shootout in which three attackers and a Kosovo police officer were killed. They have often clashed with Kosovo police and international peacekeepers, but last month's violence was the worst in years. Lajcak urged Pristina to start working on establishing an association of Serb municipalities to allow greater autonomy for Serb majority areas. Lajcak urged Belgrade to investigate the events and punish any perpetrators in its territory.

Persons: Miroslav Lajcak, Lajcak, Albin Kurti, gunbattle, Gabriel Escobar, Kurti, Aleksandar Vucic, Fatos Bytyci, Ivana Sekularac, Ros Russell Organizations: Union, Serbs, Police, Kosovo, United States, Serbian, Kosovo police Locations: PRISTINA, Serbia, Kosovo, Belgrade, Pristina, Banjska, Kosovo's, Serbian, NATO, Balkans, France, Germany, Italy

☆ Estonia's Kallas Dismayed by Hungary's Orban Handshake With 'Criminal' Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

With great pomp, Viktor Orban and Putin held talks in China on Tuesday. Broadcast on Russian television, Orban told Putin that he had never wanted to oppose Moscow and is trying to salvage bilateral contacts. "It was very, very unpleasant to see that," Kallas, one of Ukraine's staunchest defenders, told Reuters in an interview in Paris. At least 2,600 Hungarians and 600 Soviet troops were killed in the fighting. This is the reality, but it doesn't mean that we should lose our interest in these areas," Kallas said.

Persons: John Irish PARIS, Vladimir Putin, Kaja Kallas, Viktor Orban, Putin, Orban, Ukraine's, Kallas, Emmanuel Macron, he's, John Irish, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Union, Ukraine, Reuters, Criminal Court, ICC, Republicans, Hamas Locations: Moscow, Estonian, Hungary, Russia, China, Paris, Ukraine, Soviet, Kyiv, U.S, Israel, Nagorno, Karabakh, Western Balkans, Middle East

BRUSSELS, Oct 17 (Reuters) - European Union leaders aim on Tuesday to settle on a united approach to the crisis triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel after days of confusion, infighting and mixed messaging. Some officials and lawmakers also criticized von der Leyen, who visited Israel on Friday, for not declaring that the EU expects Israel to abide by international humanitarian law in its response to the attack, as other EU leaders did. Von der Leyen stated that position publicly for the first time at the weekend. Commission officials have insisted von der Leyen had already conveyed the message privately to Israeli officials and defended her swift visit to Israel as an important sign of solidarity. The EU leaders are likely to task ministers with exploring potential risks in more detail, according to officials.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Von der, von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, der Leyen, Michel, John Irish, Andrew Gray, Howard Goller Organizations: Union, European Council, EU, European, Von der Leyen's, Israel, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Gaza, Europe

☆ EU to launch a humanitarian air bridge to bring aid to Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Smoke rises in the air above Gaza following Israeli bombings, as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS/TIRANA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The European Union said on Monday it would launch a humanitarian air bridge operation consisting of "several flights" to Egypt aiming to bring supplies to humanitarian organisations on the ground in Gaza. "Palestinians in Gaza are in need of humanitarian help and aid, they cannot pay the prize of Hamas' barbarism," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a press conference in Tirana. She noted that the EU had decided over the weekend to triple its humanitarian assistance, to over 75 million euros, to support civilians in need in Gaza. It has put Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under a total blockade and pounded it with unprecedented air strikes, and is widely expected to launch a ground assault.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, gunning, Benoit Van Overstraeten, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Gaza, EU, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, BRUSSELS, TIRANA, Egypt, UNICEF, Lebanon, Tirana, Israel's

☆ Finnish Nobel Peace laureate and former president Ahtisaari dies at 86
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Anne Kauranen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari poses with his medal and diploma during the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo December 10, 2008. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHELSINKI, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Nobel Peace laureate Martti Ahtisaari, who served as Finland's 10th president between 1994 and 2000, died on Monday at the age of 86, the Finnish president's office said in a statement. Ahtisaari was celebrated around the world for brokering peace in conflict zones in Kosovo, Indonesia and Northern Ireland. All conflicts can be settled, and there are no excuses for allowing them to become eternal," Ahtisaari said when he accepted the Nobel award in 2008. Several months afterwards, the Nobel committee gave him the peace prize, citing work on multiple continents over more than three decades.

Persons: Martti Ahtisaari, Ints, Ahtisaari, Mara, Martti, Finland's, Slobodan Milosevic, Eeva, Marko, Anne Kauranen, Ritsuko Ando, Sonya Hepinstall, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Soviet, Social Democrats, Finland's European Union, NATO, Finland's Ministry, Foreign Affairs, EU, Yugoslav, Crisis Management, Free Aceh Movement, Nokia, Thomson Locations: Oslo, Rights HELSINKI, Finnish, Kosovo, Indonesia, Northern Ireland, Finland, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Viipuri, Russia, Pakistan, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa, Aceh, Balkans

☆ EU looks to the future at summit on migration and enlargement
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Other central and eastern EU countries have also put up border controls inside what is normally a zone of open travel, citing the need to crack down on people smugglers and migrants who avoid regular border crossings and arrival procedures. But the matter is politically sensitive and anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies are on the rise in some EU countries ahead of continent-wide European Parliament elections next June. From economic aid transfers to decision-making to maintaining cohesion, EU leaders will look on Friday at what needs to change inside their union to allow for another enlargement. Such debates highlight a tough dilemma the EU faces in trying to bring in new members while deepening existing integration. "Enlargement is a geo-strategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity ... both the EU and future member states need to be ready."

Persons: Spain's King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Jon Nazca, Gabriela Baczynska, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Lions, Alhambra, Political Community Summit, REUTERS, Rights, GEO, Reuters, EU, Kyiv, European Union, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights GRANADA, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, Europe, Bavaria, Poland, East, Africa, Russia's, Grenada, China, Moldova, Western Balkans, Britain, Kyiv, Warsaw, Hungary

☆ EU Looks to the Future at Summit on Migration and Enlargement
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska GRANADA, Gabriela Baczynska, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: GEO, Reuters, EU, Kyiv, European Union Locations: Spain, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, Europe, Bavaria, Poland, East, Africa, Russia's, Grenada, China, Moldova, Western Balkans, Britain, Kyiv, Warsaw, Hungary

☆ A second war could easily erupt in Europe — while everyone's distracted by Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Violence erupted in northern Kosovo in September, and Belgrade responded with a military build-up on its border with its neighbor. Given the current political and security context, analysts say an outbreak of violence in northern Kosovo "should raise alarm bells." Open hostilityLong-simmering animosity between Serbia and Kosovo has broken into open hostility in northern Kosovo in recent months. Northern Kosovo, which borders Serbia, has an ethnic Serb majority whereas the country as a whole is around 93% ethnic Albanian. Mojsilovic stated that number of troops on the Kosovo border had been reduced to 4,500 from 8,350.

Persons: Milan Radoicic, Majda Ruge, Stringer, Milos Vucevic, Staff Milan Mojsilovic, Mojsilovic, Aleksandar Vučić, Vučić, Ian Bremmer, Bremmer, Ruge, Aleksandar Vucic, Krusha, Armend Nimani, Slobodan Milošević, Serbian, Albin Kurti, Andrius, Tursa, Serbia's Slobodan Milosevic Organizations: Kosovo Police, Kosovo Serb, Milan, Anadolu Agency, Getty, European Council, Foreign Relations, Albanian, Kosovo, Afp, NATO, Serbian, Staff, Financial Times, EU, Eurasia Group, Yugoslavia, Yugoslav, Yugoslav Ministry of Defense, Federal, Nato, Kosovo Albanians Locations: Banjska, Jarinje, Serbia, Zvecan, Kosovo, Ukraine, Europe, Belgrade, destabilising Kosovo, Northern Kosovo, Serbian, Serbs, Yugoslavia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno, Karabakh, Russia, Mitrovica, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Balkans, Kosovo Albanian, Krusha, Madhe, Albanian, Yugoslav, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Central, Eastern Europe, Stagovo

GRANADA, Spain, Oct 5 (Reuters) - European leaders are expected to assure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of long-term support on Thursday after U.S. President Joe Biden voiced fears that Republican infighting in Congress could hurt American policy on continuing aid to Kyiv. Zelenskiy is expected to attend a summit in the Spanish city of Granada of the European Political Community - a forum to foster cooperation among more than 40 countries established last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In Slovakia, former prime minister Robert Fico's party came first in a general election at the weekend after pledging to halt military aid to Ukraine. In Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said last month his country was no longer arming Ukraine and was focusing on rebuilding its own weapon stocks. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is expected to attend the summit and European officials said they were keen to find ways to help his government cope with the immediate humanitarian crisis and provide political and economic support.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, Zelenskiy, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Democrat Biden, Biden, Robert Fico's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Scholz, Ilham Aliyev, Macron, Charles Michel, Nikol Pashinyan, Andrew Gray, Andreas Rinke, Grant McCool Organizations: Political, British, U.S, Republican, Democrat, Senate, European Union, NATO, Kyiv, European, EU, Baku, Thomson Locations: GRANADA, Spain, Kyiv, Zelenskiy, Spanish, Granada, Ukraine, Europe, U.S, Slovakia, Poland, BALKANS, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Nagorno, Karabakh, Berlin

Not only in the EU but in all of Europe," Zelenskiy said on his arrival, warning of Russian "disinformation attacks". "It does worry me," Biden said on Wednesday, though he added that a majority of U.S. lawmakers continued to support funding Ukraine. In Slovakia, former prime minister Robert Fico's party came first in a parliamentary election on pledges of halting military aid to Ukraine, while Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said Warsaw was no longer arming Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday he was "very confident" that U.S. support for Ukraine would continue. Many EU leaders have condemned the Azerbaijani operation, which triggered an exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

Persons: Zelenskiy, Spain Zelenskiy, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, U.N, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Democrat Biden, Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Robert Fico's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Pedro Sanchez, Ilham Aliyev, Belen Carreno, Andreas Rinke, Anna Pruchnicka, Gareth Jones Organizations: Political, EU, British, U.S, Republican, Democrat, European Commission, Kyiv, Polish, European Union, NATO, Spanish, Thomson Locations: Spain, Europe, Balkans, Caucasus, Granada, GRANADA, Kyiv, Spanish, Ukraine, Norway, Albania, Russia, Poland, Brussels, U.S, Slovakia, Warsaw, EU, East, Africa, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Nagorno, Karabakh, Baku, Berlin

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Persons: Dow Jones

BRUSSELS, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Seven EU countries have ordered ammunition under a landmark European Union procurement scheme to get urgently needed artillery shells to Ukraine and replenish depleted Western stocks, according to the EU agency in charge. The scheme was set up as part of a plan worth at least 2 billion euros, launched in March with the aim of getting a million shells and missiles to Ukraine within a year. "Seven Member States have already placed orders for 155mm ammunition through the EDA’s fast-track procedure," the agency said in response to questions from Reuters. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Kyiv on Thursday that the alliance now had overarching framework contracts for 2.4 billion euros' ($2.5 billion) worth of key ammunition, including 1 billion euros of firm orders. The EDA said the EU deals were for both complete shells and for components such as fuses, projectiles, charges and primers.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, France’s CAESAR, Poland’s, Germany’s, Andrew Gray Organizations: EU, European Union, European Defence Agency, States, Reuters, NATO, Peace, Andrew Gray Our, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, EU, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Kyiv, Europe, Ukrainian

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