Social-Democrat Constantin Nita, MP, a former energy minister in Victor Ponta’s Cabinet, is prosecuted by the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) under judicial control on bail for influence peddling. He was at the DNA headquarters on Monday afternoon, where he was informed about the accusations.The prosecutors ordered the judicial control and a 60-day bail starting on […]

On the twelfth night of anti-government protests, dubbed the “Colorful Revolution”, thousands of protestors wearing vibrant clothes threw paint balls on the Foreign Ministry building in the Macedonian capital of Skopje. Macedonian Foreign Ministry | Photo by: BIRN The Foreign Ministry building, recently built during the controversial government-funded Skopje 2014 revamp project, is seen as […]

Parliament in Montenegro has summoned the head of the anti-corruption agency to answer claims that lack of professionalism and political pressure on the agency are delaying its work. The Anti-Corruption Agency director Sreten Radonjic | Photo: The Anti-Corruption Agency website. A parliamentary committee has demanded a hearing with the head of the Anti-Corruption Agency, Sreten […]

The newly agreed code of ethics for the media should improve reporting standards in Montenegro – although the lack of penalties for non-compliance is seen as a problem. Journalists in Montenegro have agreed on a revised Code of Ethics, which could help the country’s media – sharply divided between anti- and pro-government outlets, raise their […]

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov has denied any financial impropriety after the opposition presented papers linking his relatives to a firm in Panama. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov | Photo by: president.gov.mk Macedonian President Gjorgje Ivanov has denied claims that either he or his family have exploited secretive offshore tax regimes in Panama to conceal their wealth. His […]

Around 1,000 demonstrators scuffled with Moldovan riot police on Sunday in long-running anti-government protests and threatened to storm buildings owned by a prominent businessman in central Chisinau. (Photo by AFP) Since last September thousands have regularly turned out to protest at the disappearance of $1 billion from banks, which has led to widespread disenchantment with […]

As part of a series of visits across Europe, the CIA chief John Brennan arrived in Sarajevo on Friday to discuss terrorism with the Bosnian authorities. John Brennan | Photo: Wikimedia. CIA chief John Brennan met Bosnian security officials on Friday to discuss security issues in the Balkan country, Dragan Lukac, head of the Federation […]

Bulgaria’s new anti-corruption draft law now before Parliament is more stringent than the version presented last year, Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva has told envoys of the European Union and the European Economic Area. “I hope that it will receive a strong support in parliament as all surveys show that this is what the public […]

Following a massive – and controversial – police action, the managers of the children’s fund, which allocates cash to treat sick children abroad, have been arrested and charged with corruption. Photo: EastTNChildrens/Flickr Bulgaria’s special prosecution is investigating five officials from the Fund for Treatment of Children Abroad, including its former head, Pavel Aleksandrov, for corruption, it […]

Romania and Ukraine are mulling joining a joint Black Sea fleet under NATO control and creating a Ukrainian-Romanian-Bulgarian brigade, aiming to strengthen the region’s security. Ukraine and Romania agree to strenghten military cooperation | Photo: presidency.ro Close cooperation on security topped the agenda in discussions between Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and his Ukrainian counterpart during […]