By EURACTIV Network 8:50 (updated: 8:51)
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THE HAGUE
Tirana trouble. A request by the government of the Netherlands to suspend visa-free travel for Albanians is being looked at by the European Commission after a majority of the Dutch parliament voted in favour of the measure.
A spokesperson for the EU executive did not comment on the possible outcome of the evaluation on Monday. Dutch lawmakers backed a motion that claims the Albanian mafia is free to move across Europe because of the visa-free regime, which has been in place for over a decade.
If the Commission were to agree with the Dutch appraisal then the EU Council would have to sign off on changing the visa rules, although it looks unlikely the executive would come to that conclusion, given it recently recommended the opening of membership talks with Albania.
But this is not the only concern for Tirana these days. Diplomatic sources say that the Hague is not ready to give its green light for the opening of accession talks with Albania.
(Sam Morgan, EURACTIV.com)
Read more: Commission recommends opening accession talks with Albania, North Macedonia
Read also: Commission: Suspending visa-free for Albanians should not be decided lightly
Meanwhile, in Belgrade, the chairman of Russia’s State Duma chairman called on the UN to take a position on Priština’s actions. Particularly, Vyacheslav Volodin has said the “incursion” of Kosovo special police into the north of Kosovo was a “provocation” aimed at intimidating the Serbs and establishing control of that area by force. He pointed out that the Serbian people could count on Russia’s help in the future, too.
“The UN should show its stance. Not only authority but rather peace in the Balkans as well depend on its determination and concrete steps,” Volodin told the Serbian parliament. He added, “The absence of a clear reaction from the EU to Priština’s provocations causes doubt as to whether it is capable of mediating the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština.” (Beta-EURACTIV.rs)
Trump-May talks: US President Donald Trump will sit down with Prime Minister Theresa May today, as the pair attend a breakfast meeting with royals, business leaders and politicians, as well as a later bi-lateral later on at 10 Downing Street. A potential trade deal is high on the agenda for today’s talks, following on from some positive exchanges between the Queen and Trump at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace last night.
However, large-scale protests against the US President’s visit have been planned across several UK cities today, including a demonstration in Trafalgar Square. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is due to address protesters at the London demonstration.
(Samuel Stolton, EURACTIV.com)
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