MEDIA-CROATIA: Journalists Suspended over Some Old Quotes

A new debate has broken out in Croatia over freedom of expression after two editors with the state television were suspended for airing a clip from an old speech by President Stipe Mesic.

MOLDOVA: Victorious Rebel Leader Looks at Russia

Democratic or not, results say Igor Smirnov, incumbent leader of the self-proclaimed Republic of Transnistria, will stay for a fourth consecutive term as he promises to push the region into a Russian embrace.

ENVIRONMENT-ROMANIA: A Small Victory Called Route 66a

The controversy over construction of a major highway in western Romania that threatens to destroy the precious Retezat and Domogled natural reserve parks has been put off at least for now.

BULGARIA: Secrets Will Be Out

The Bulgarian parliament finally adopted a much delayed law Wednesday to open most of the country's archives of former communist secret services.

TURKEY: New Pitfalls on the Road to EU

On its long and winding road to becoming the first Muslim nation of the European Union, Turkey's accession talks are heading towards a breakdown. The question is whether there will be a minor collision or a major crash that could eventually derail its membership bid.

EASTERN EUROPE: EU No Instant Paradise

Nationalism, corruption, populism and violence are terms increasingly associated with some of the events seen in the Central and Eastern European countries that joined the European Union (EU) in May 2004. But whether there are reasons for concern is still open to debate.

ICELAND: Migration Appears Here Too

Since May this year, there has been a huge influx of foreigners to Iceland. That is quite striking, considering that only 20 years ago Iceland was considered almost ethnically 'pure'.

BALKANS: A Nuclear Light Goes Out

Two reactors at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria that are considered dangerous will shut down Dec. 31. And just in time, as Bulgaria joins the European Union the next day, together with neighbour Romania.

TURKEY: Insurance Against European Risks

Europe faces serious new risks and should rely on Turkey's membership of the EU to mitigate several of them, the World Economic Forum (WEF) says ahead of its next regional meeting to be held in Istanbul Nov. 23 and 24.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Almost No Government, Not Bad

Nearly six months without a stable government could cause a serious institutional crisis in many European countries, but for most Czechs life goes on as usual as they turn their backs to political squabbling.

BALKANS: Development Arrives with Visitors

Billboards that say 'Welcome to Serbia' are back now after a 15-year absence due to wars and isolation. And there will be more after some surprise announcements about what they can do.

HUNGARY: Renewed Street Violence Weakens Socialists

The political and social climate in Hungary remains confrontational following the street clashes that marred the 50th anniversary celebrations of the 1956 uprising against Soviet rule.

SERBIA: New Constitution Revives an Old Problem

A referendum over the weekend approved Serbia's first non-communist constitution in 60 years, but not with the level of enthusiasm the government had campaigned for.

DEATH PENALTY: Persuasion Needed for Abolition in Europe Too

Some Europeans still need persuading about arguments for abolishing the death penalty - even though the continent is now virtually a "death penalty-free zone", says the Council of Europe's Secretary General Terry Davis.

BALKANS: Albanian Troubles Set to Resurface

The crisis over the future of ethnic Albanians has come to the fore again in the face of a referendum on a new constitution in Serbia this weekend.

ENVIRONMENT: Serbia Discovers the Value of Rubbish

Serbia is only now beginning to encourage people to recycle waste, after years of assumption that this is the business only of the government.

RIGHTS-EUROPE: The Ghost of Nationalism Resurfaces

Tensions between Hungary and Slovakia have risen to unexpected heights after a series of xenophobic incidents, with members of the sizeable Hungarian minority in Slovakia being targeted by Slovak nationalist youths.

RIGHTS-BALKANS: Justice for War Victims Achievable, but Effort Required

Justice for the dozens of thousands of victims of the Balkans wars is achievable, but the truth about war crimes has to be established at all levels and among all the former warring nations in order to start the reconciliation process, agreed experts at a conference here.

ENVIRONMENT-EU: Carbon Trading Scheme Challenged

European Union governments are abusing the bloc's emissions trading scheme by allowing their industries to produce as much carbon dioxide as they wish at no cost, environmental organisations are warning.

LATIN AMERICA-EU: Modest Accords, Major Discord

The fourth EU-Latin America/Caribbean summit ended Friday in Austria with a few limited agreements to bolster trade, while other free trade negotiations were postponed and there were more doubts than certainties in relations between the two regions.

LATIN AMERICA-EU: Cooperation or Dependency?

The EU-Latin America/Caribbean summit, to take place Friday in the Austrian capital, will be marked by the contradictions that pervade relations between the two regions. While the governments tout cooperation, civil society organisations complain that it often merely serves to strengthen ties that benefit corporate Europe.