PORTUGAL: Epidemic of Conscientious Objection to Performing Abortion

Pleading "conscientious objection," a significant proportion of doctors in Portugal are preventing women from making use of the law authorising abortions up to 10 weeks of gestation, which entered into force on Sunday.

TRADE: EU Policies &#39Predatory&#39

The European Union's trade policy has been condemned as "predatory" by a leading anti-poverty campaigner from India.

DEVELOPMENT: New EU Head Portugal to Focus on Africa

Portugal, the new holder of the European Union's rotating presidency, has promised that Africa will be one of its key priorities for the next six months.

ALBANIA: But Where Are the Differences

People across the Balkans have much in common, forget the conflicts of the recent or distant past, and the efforts of politicians to convince them how "different" or "distinctive" they are.

DEVELOPMENT-EUROPE: Commission Sets Policy Against Health and Education

The European Commission has decided that its development aid activities should not focus on health and education, a senior official with the EU executive has admitted.

Q&A: Time to Know the Unknown

Albania is too often and too superficially described as "a European country little is known about." The issues the nation of 3.1 million is facing on its thorny road of development and towards democracy are also often met with little knowledge and loads of prejudice abroad.

ALBANIA: Tourism Brings Environmental Challenge

It was not so long ago that Albania, a tiny nation of 3.1 million in the western Balkans remained off route for hundreds of thousands of tourists who rushed to the Adriatic coast for their summer vacations.

SPAIN-PORTUGAL: Binational Village Wants to Be Simply ‘European’

This tiny village of 109 people straddles the border between Portugal and Spain. On one side are the 50 houses of Rio de Onor de Braganza and on the other are the 20 houses of Ríohonor de Castilla. But the locals feel they are one community, and they want their hometown to be declared the first simply "European" village.

TURKEY: Into the Iraq Quagmire?

Turkey is beefing up military preparedness against Iraq-based Kurdish rebels as a prelude to a possible cross-border incursion that is opposed by the United States, European Union and the Iraqi government.

SLOVAKIA: Schizophrenia or Russophilia?

Whereas most of Eastern Europe embraces the United States, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is finding common ground with Russian President Vladimir Putin in both energy cooperation and geopolitics.

BALKANS: Smokescreen on Crime Lifts

State involvement in organised crime through the 1990s stands exposed following the arrest of 11 persons in a giant cigarette smuggling operation.

SLOVAKIA: Right-Wing Extremists Gain Ground

Right-wing extremism is on the rise in Slovakia. Activists complain not enough is being done, while from Europe fingers are pointed at the left-wing government's controversial alliance with extreme-right nationalists.

POLITICS: For U.S. Base, Bush Finds Czech Enthusiasm, Polish Reserve

U.S. President George W. Bush this week discussed a U.S. missile base in Eastern Europe with Polish and Czech officials, but the results were merely words, and the two European countries showed some naivety as international players.

POLITICS: U.S. Base Splits Europe Again

U.S. President George W. Bush is visiting the Czech Republic and Poland this week as part of Washington's ongoing diplomatic effort to convince the region's leaders of the need for a missile defence system in Eastern Europe - revealing a potential new division amongst European countries.

BULGARIA: Eye on Justice as New Political Star Emerges

Justice Minister Georgi Petkanov announced he will resign after the weekend because of health reasons, saying "work at the ministry is extremely hard." Meanwhile, a rising politician who has staked a claim as an anti-crime crusader is making his way towards the prime minister's chair.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Europe and Asia Seek Differentiated Goals

Developing countries led by China and India insist on "differentiated" commitments in any future arrangements to address climate change, arguing that the rich countries bear a "bigger responsibility" to make deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

BULGARIA: A Capital That Can’t Handle Its Mess

On several occasions over the past two years, the streets of the Bulgarian capital Sofia have been literally covered with trash. The city of one million is one of the few European capitals without a waste processing system.

ROMANIA: Referendum Asserts Popular Will Over Parliament

A decision by parliament to oust Romanian President Traian Basescu was overturned in a historic referendum that has endorsed his wide popular appeal despite recent political turmoil.

POLAND: Highway Dreams Fly Over Rospuda Valley

In a campaign that has won the support of Polish public opinion and the European Union (EU), environmental groups are hoping to thwart the Polish cabinet's plan to construct a highway over the protected Rospuda valley.

POLAND: Abortion Laws Not Strong Enough For Some

With the strictest abortion laws in Europe, one would expect any debates to revolve around its liberalisation. Yet in 21st century Poland, the abortion issue has been unsuccessfully raised by politicians seeking to strengthen anti-abortion legislation even further.

SERBIA: A Government At Last

Serbian leaders finally reached agreement on a new coalition government Friday, more than three months after the inconclusive January elections.