Bulgaria Has Some of the EU’s Highest Prices for Flour, Rice and Dairy Products
Flour, rice, and fresh milk are now some of the priciest goods in Bulgaria when compared to the rest of the European Union
An important progress towards solving the political crisis in Macedonia was made on Monday as resigned Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski confirmed that early parliamentary elections will be held on April 24 as had been agreed in the summer of last year.
The holding of the early elections is part of the agreement reached by the four largest parties in Macedonia in June and July 2015 with the mediation of the EU.
Gruevski submitted his resignation on Friday in order to allow for a period of 100 days before the holding of early elections.
His resignation is to be followed by the appointment of a caretaker government which will be entrusted with the organisation of the early elections.
Also on Monday, Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski accepted the resignation of Gruevski which had been submitted on Friday.
The resignation of the prime minister also ends the terms of all other government members, the Macedonian Information Agency (MIA) informs.
Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov has to entrust Emil Dimitriev, who has been nominated as as an interim prime minister by the ruling VMRO-DPMNE part, with a mandate to form a caretaker government.
MPs from the ruling party submitted on Monday a draft decision for dissolution of parliament, which should enter into force on February 24.
European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn visited Macedonia on Friday in order to meet with the leaders of the four largest parties and assess the progress on the implementation of the agreement.
However the latest round of talks seemed to be on the verge of failure as the largest opposition SDSM party expressed objection to the date of the elections.
The fears of SDSM are that there will be no ample amount of time to check the voting lists are up-to-date.
The United States is reinforcing its military footprint in the Eastern Mediterranean by heavily fortifying the naval base at Souda Bay, located on the Greek island of Crete
A state of emergency has been declared in the area surrounding the large wildfire near Ierapetra on the Greek island of Crete
A full blockade of several major Serbian cities was launched on the morning of July 4 in protest against police violence
Romania is facing a severe financial crisis
North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has sharply criticized the latest developments in the European Parliament, accusing it of erasing Macedonian identity and language in what he described as a "Taliban-style" move
A large forest fire broke out near the town of Vourvourou on the Sithonia peninsula in Halkidiki, an area known for campsites and holiday homes
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