Brussels

EU says Macedonia moving closer to visa-free travel deal

Brussels - Macedonian citizens are moving steadily towards enjoying visa-free travel to the European Union, one of the bloc's top officials said Thursday.

"I welcome the good progress done in the field of the requirements that have to be met for visa liberalization," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said after meeting Macedonia's deputy prime minister in Brussels.

"I know how important visa-free travel is for its citizens," Rehn said, adding that his office wanted to see ordinary Macedonians being able to visit the EU without a visa "sooner rather than later".

Serbia could become EU candidate in 2009, Barroso says

Serbia could become EU candidate in 2009, Barroso saysBrussels  - Serbia could become a candidate for European Union membership as early as 2009 following the capture of war-crimes indictee Radovan Karadzic, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Wednesday.

"If everything goes according to plan, and all the conditions are met, it will be possible to give candidate status to Serbia in 2009," Barroso said after a meeting in Brussels with Serbian President Boris Tadic.

NATO to go ahead with plans to help Georgian military

NATO to go ahead with plans to help Georgian military Brussels  - NATO is to go ahead with plans to help develop Georgia's military capabilities and will now have access to information concerning its airspace activity, the alliance's spokesman said Wednesday.

Both are long-standing projects within the context of Georgia's Partnership for Peace programme with NATO, James Appathurai stressed.

European Parliament wants an end to stereotypical housewives ads

Eurpeon Union LogoBrussels - European lawmakers are calling on advertisers to stop reinforcing gender stereotypes by constantly portraying women cleaning the kitchen and men polishing their cars.

A non-legally binding report to this effect was adopted in the European Parliament on Wednesday with 504 votes in favour, 110 against and 22 abstentions.

"MEPs call on the EU institutions and member states to develop awareness actions against sexist insults or degrading images of women and men in advertising and marketing," lawmakers said in a statement.

EU should reward Serbia for Karadzic capture, Barroso says

Brussels  - The European Union should reward Serbia for the capture of war-crimes indictee Radovan Karadzic by implementing a deal on trade liberalization, the EU's top official said Wednesday during a visit of Serbian President Boris Tadic to Brussels.

And European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that he believed Serbia could become a candidate for EU membership as early as in 2009 if it continues to bring in key reforms.

Describing the July capture of Karadzic as a "milestone" and a "historic moment," Barroso said "I think it should be acknowledged by implementing the trade-related parts" of a broader political deal which the EU and Serbia signed in the spring.

Georgia seeks closer ties with the EU

Brussels - Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze thanked the European Union for its support Tuesday and called for closer ties with Brussels.

"What Georgia needs is to consolidate the gains we have made through tightened integration (with the EU)," Gurgenidze said after talks in Brussels with the EU's external affairs commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

The meeting came a day after EU leaders reached out to Georgia by promising to start negotiations on a free-trade area and on granting visa facilitation to Georgian nationals.

At their emergency summit, EU heads of state and government also threatened to suspend talks on a new partnership agreement with Russia because of its refusal to comply with the six-point peace plan.

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