UKRAINE: ‘Just Start Governing, Please’

An exhausted public waits as Ukrainian political parties work out a coalition agreement following last week's parliamentary elections. The governing Party of the Regions won the greatest share of the vote, but most likely the pro-Western opposition will outplay it.

ENVIRONMENT: EU Troubling Fishy Waters

European Union governments routinely ignore scientific advice when they establish catch limits for their fishermen, a leading environmental group has suggested.

ROMANIA: Villagers Resist a Corporation

"I never had money, I never wanted money, and I never will want money." "I fear no one but God." "I will not leave this place for as long as I live." Such statements, from a small yet determined core of inhabitants of Rosia Montana are indication that the Canadian corporation that wants to dig for gold here could get blocked by at least some people.

TURKEY: Back in Reconciliation Mode with EU

The European Union and Turkey, engaged over 40 years ago for a marriage that may never take place, are back in reconciliation mode after a period of estrangement.

Q&A: ‘I Hate Politics and Intellectuals’

Croatian writer and journalist Slavenka Drakulic is preparing to launch the German edition of her latest novel, Frida, in November, in Berlin. In the meantime, she attended last week the 20th meeting of Eurozine (European Meeting of Cultural Journals) in Sibiu, Romania, the European city of culture for 2007.

BALKANS: Serbia Leans Towards a Russian Hug

Visitors to Montenegro are welcomed by billboards in Russian, because so many Russians have bought property in this tiny Adriatic country. Many Serbs think similar signs might now appear at Belgrade airport.

BURMA: EU Urged to Awake from Passivity

With images of monks converging courageously on Rangoon broadcast around the world, the European Union threatened this week that it would respond to any use of violence against peaceful protesters by strengthening the sanctions it had previously imposed on Burma's military junta.

UKRAINE: Divided as Ever as Elections Approach

Ukraine is again heading for parliamentary elections after months of power infighting.

RIGHTS-EUROPE: Torture Flights Could Land Again

Seven months after a major investigation spelt out Europe's involvement in a murky U.S. torture and kidnapping programme, the EU's governments have claimed they are powerless to prevent such human rights abuses in the future.

EUROPE: U.S. Visa Puts Allies at Odds

Negotiations for a new visa regime between the United States and the European Union (EU) have driven another wedge between the EU's older, Western members and the Eastern European countries that recently joined.

ENVIRONMENT: Getting Some More Blue Into the Danube

The biggest river research expedition of the year is on its way to see if the Danube can be the Blue Danube again.

MOLDOVA: Russia Holds On to Its Satellite

Moldova's Communist President has been trying to make the country more independent from both Russia and Romania. But Moscow's grip on the former Soviet republic remains strong.

BALKANS: Media Bowing Under Pressure

The ways of Serbian media have come into focus again after the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) declared earlier this week that Serbian media must practise professionalism and respect human dignity.

POLAND: Not Done With Fighting the Past

After a tough decision by Poland's constitutional court, and with early elections looming, it remains unclear how the country will deal with its government's attempt to expose former communist collaborators.

Q&A: Corrupted Politicians Expected to Fight Corruption

Monica Macovei is at the centre of a national dispute over cleaning up the Romanian government.

EUROPE: Reform Tastes an Eastern Flavour

The European Union has agreed on a document to reform itself institutionally, but Brussels is beginning to understand it will have to get used to tough opposition from some of its Eastern European member states.

ALBANIA: Forget Communism…or Sell It

Bunkers? Underground catacombs? Submarine bases? Albania has been shaped by one of the most bizarre communist regimes ever and the potential to exploit it for tourism is inestimable.

ROMANIA: Culture Capital Is Another World

Sibiu, one of the most dynamic regions in Romania, thrives as the European City of Culture for 2007. But its prosperity is not representative of the entire country.

TURKEY: Erdogan Sailing Into Reality

Sunday's elections have elevated Turkey to the rank of mature democracy. By giving an impressive 46.7 percent of their vote to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish citizens have expressed determination for social stability, economic growth, and political emancipation of the urban middle class and rural populations.

BALKANS: Serbia Hopes for Postponement of Kosovo Independence

Serbia has expressed particular satisfaction after the United Nations failed to agree a new Security Council resolution aimed at supervised independence for Kosovo.

BALKANS: EU Leaders Agree Common Stance

Top European Union politicians stated their determination to maintain a unified stance on Kosovo this week as they analysed the latest twists in the saga of the disputed territory.