Neighbourhood policy 

After victory, what now for Tadic?

Confounding the expectations of observers in Serbia and abroad, the Democratic Party (DS) of President Boris Tadic snatched a major victory from its main rival, the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) – hitherto Serbia's single largest party – in the early parliamentary election held on 11 May.

Why Georgia should be on EU minds

The people of Georgia, a republic of less than five million people on the southern slopes of the Caucasus mountains, head to the polls on Wednesday [...]

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Foreign affairs 

EU to restore cultural sites in Balkans

EU hopes funding for 26 sites will encourage further investment into tourism.

US, EU begin fresh ‘open skies' talks

Second phase of liberalisation talks focuses on mergers and aligning rules governing the US and EU aviation markets.

Economics 

Disappointment clouds Balkan investment plans

Attempt to harmonise investment floundering.

Not everyone buys into engagement with Russia

Seen from a German point of view, eastern Europe's disenchantment with the European Union is both untrue and fantastically offensive. How can the countries of eastern Europe feel betrayed by Germany when it was German pressure that got them into the EU (far too early, in the view of some existing members)? Germany is a huge investor in the region, a guarantee of stability, and a strong advocate for the ex-communist countries: that, at least, is the prevailing view in Berlin.

Riding on the euro in the economic fast-lane

For those of us in at the creation of the euro – albeit in my case in a modest advisory role – the coming tenth anniversary of the May summit at which EU leaders finalised the 1 January 1999 launch date is a moment of extreme satisfaction. Even more so for a Brit persistently infuriated by his fellow countrymen's decades-long attitude “of course it will never happen, and if it does it won't work”. The euro is up there as the world's second reserve currency and soon the citizens of a 16th member state – Slovakia – will be treating it as their own.

Business 

Spain facing court over Endesa case

European Commission threatening to take Madrid to the European Court of Justice.

Do manufacturers lack drive for greener cars?

A UK expert on greener vehicles has no sympathy for foot-dragging carmakers.

Commission calls a halt to noisy tyres

Tyre firms say targets are 'technically unfeasible"; proposal will also cover braking systems.