North Macedonia votes in local polls

SKOPJE, Oct. 19 — About 1.8 million voters in North Macedonia are casting ballots Sunday to elect mayors and councillors in 80 municipalities and the city of Skopje. It is the country’s eighth local election since independence, with 309 candidates...

North Macedonia Votes in Local Elections Sunday

Voters in the Republic of North Macedonia are going to the polls on Sunday to elect mayors and municipal councillors in the country's 80 municipalities and in the capital Skopje. A total of 1,832,415 voters are eligible to cast ballots, including...

Talks on Balkans ‘return hubs’ for failed asylum seekers ongoing

Two Western Balkans nations have stressed that they will not host “return hubs” for failed asylum seekers ahead of a summit with Sir Keir Starmer. Talks are set to continue with countries in the region about potentially acting as third countries...

Europe’s Growing Divide: Expansion Without Unity

Europe is expanding again, but unity remains elusive. While Brussels prepares the next enlargement toward the Balkans and Eastern Europe, the Union is confronting an internal erosion of cohesion. The silent culprit is tax inequality—a gap that...

Turnout Reaches 46.65% Half an Hour before Close in North Macedonia’s Local Elections

Voter turnout in the Republic of North Macedonia’s local elections stood at 46.65% half an hour before close of polling, with returns from 94.62% of polling stations processed, State Election Commission Chair Boris Kondarko said on Sunday. Turnout...

Several EU member states face uncertainty amid looming Russian gas ban

The European Union’s proposed measures to phase out imports of Russian oil and gas would destroy Hungary’s security of supply, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, who spoke at the meeting of energy ministers in...

Greek idol returns

Fed up with playing a minor supporting role, Greece’s former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has left the country’s political stage. He presented his resignation - after 14 years of being an MP with left-wing SYRIZA - as a retreat to civic life and...

Bulgarian Sailors Sweep Balkan Sailing Championship in Nessebar

Bulgarian sailors won the most awards at the 53rd Balkan Sailing Championship, held from October 16–19 off the Black Sea coast at Nessebar, the Bulgarian Sailing Federaion said Monday. The competition brought together 125 sailors from six Balkan...

PM Zhelyazkov to Participate in Berlin Process Leaders’ Summit of Western Balkans and European Partners

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov will participate in the Berlin Process Summit 2025, which will take place on Wednesday, October 22, in London, the government press office announced on Tuesday. The 11th edition of the discussion forum brings...

Bulgaria Signals Readiness to Open Airspace for Putin Ahead of Trump Meeting in Budapest

Bulgaria is ready to open its airspace for Russian President Vladimir Putin if he decides to travel to Budapest for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev confirmed on Monday during the EU Foreign Affairs...

Turnout Tops 31% by Mid-Afternoon in North Macedonia’s Local Elections

Voter turnout in the Republic of North Macedonia’s local elections reached 31.16% by 3 pm local time (4 pm in Bulgaria), the State Election Commission said on Sunday. The figure is based on returns from 91.16% of polling stations, with 515,069...

Voter Turnout Slightly Above 20% in North Macedonia Local Elections; Polling Proceeds Calmly

Voter turnout in the local elections in the Republic of North Macedonia was slightly above 20%, with polling proceeding calmly, the State Election Commission said on Sunday. This is a slightly lower turnout compared to the previous local elections...

North Macedonia, Amb. Palminteri at evening of culinary excellence

Meeting of gastronomic excellence in Strumica, North Macedonia, where Italian Ambassador Paolo Palminteri attended a gala evening at the Tsar Samuil hotel, accompanied by consular correspondent Dafina Pandeva. The event, passionately organized by...

Close contests in Albanian areas as North Macedonians vote

SKOPJE, Oct. 19 — Voting continued Sunday across North Macedonia, with close races in Albanian-majority areas drawing most attention. Turnout was steady by midday, with long lines in Tetovo, Gostivar and Kičevo — key battlegrounds between the...

Race for Europe: Permutations for five-way battle

The race for the European places will go down to the wire in this year's Premier Division. The league title, Europe and the relegation play-off have yet to be decided with just 11 days left in the season While Shamrock Rovers could be crowned...

Macedonian-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce Re-elects President

The Macedonian-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce announced the re-election of its President, Biljana Miteva, at a general meeting held Monday. In her address at the event, Miteva said that the number of Chamber members have increased by 127% in the...

Bulgarian-Hungarian Relations Are Example of Partnership, Constructive Dialogue, President Radev Says

Relations between Bulgaria and Hungary are an example of partnership and constructive dialogue at all levels, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said after his one-on-one meeting with his Hungarian counterpart Tamas Sulyok in Sofia on Monday. The...

Local elections begin in North Macedonia

Local elections have officially begun in North Macedonia, with voters heading to the polls to elect mayors and municipal council members across the country, Azernews reports. A total of 3,480 polling stations have been set up to serve the...

Papathanasis highlights Greece’s key role in future regional cooperation

ECONOMY [AMNA] Deputy economy and finance minister Nikos Papathanasis emphasized the importance of regional collaboration at an event marking the 35th anniversary of the European Union’s Interreg program and its 20th year of activity in...

How Russian officials fly to Europe under sanctions

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have agreed to meet in person in Budapest. One of the many questions is how exactly will the Russian president manage to get to the Hungarian capital under the sanctions? The European Commission has already stated...