Bulgaria's Annual Losses Exceed BGN 1 Billion Due to Schengen Non-Admission
Bulgaria's economy experiences annual losses amounting to hundreds of millions of euros due to its exclusion from land-based Schengen membership.
Kosovo closed its largest border crossing on Wednesday after protesters blocked it on the Serbian side to support Kosovo's ethnic Serbs in their refusal to recognize the country's independence.
After two other points on the Serbian border were closed due to similar protests from the Kosovo side since December 10, only three entry points between the two countries remain open, adds "Reuters".
The latest protest came hours after Serbia announced it had put its army on the highest alert following weeks of escalating tensions between Belgrade and Pristina.
Serbs in Serbia used a truck and tractors on Tuesday to set up the final roadblock near the Merdare border crossing on Kosovo's eastern border, Belgrade media reported.
The obstacle prevents thousands of Kosovars who work elsewhere in Europe from returning home for the holidays.
About 50,000 Serbs living in ethnically divided northern Kosovo refuse to recognize the government in Pristina or Kosovo's status as a separate state from Serbia. They have the support of many Serbs in Serbia and its government.
"If you have already entered Serbia, then you should use other border crossings... or go through North Macedonia," Kosovo's foreign ministry said on its Facebook page, announcing the closure of the Merdare border crossing. The closure took effect at midnight, although by then the crossing was apparently already unusable.
The entry point "Merdare" is the most important for road freight transport to and from Kosovo. The country also has international rail connections.
The government in Pristina asked the NATO peacekeeping force in the country, KFOR, to clear the barricades. But KFOR has no authority to operate on Serbian territory.
Follow Novinite.com on Twitter and Facebook
Write to us at editors@novinite.com
Информирайте се на Български - Novinite.bg
/Dnevnik
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
A damning report from the US State Department has unveiled a troubling reality of systematic racial and ethnic violence and discrimination against Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia
The debate surrounding the inclusion of Bulgarians in North Macedonia's constitution, a crucial precondition for the country's European Union accession talks, has taken center stage in the ongoing presidential campaign
Amid escalating tensions on its borders and a significant increase in the Ministry of National Defense budget, Romania is discreetly preparing for the reintroduction of compulsory military service
In a strategic move aimed at bolstering their defense capabilities, Romania and South Korea have embarked on negotiations for joint arms production, signaling a significant milestone in their bilateral relations
Romania is making strides toward joining the Visa Waiver Program, a significant milestone that would enable its citizens to travel to the United States visa-free for up to 90 days
The Romanian parliament has voted to impose stringent restrictions on the gambling sector, marking a significant shift in the country's regulatory landscape
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022