Linked2Balkan news, the 31st of January 2011 edition

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Croatia won’t join EU before 2013 – MEP

Croatia will probably have to wait until 2013 or 2014 to become the next member of the EU, according to Hannes Swoboda, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the country’s accession. Croatia should finish EU membership talks by June but the ratification process by member states would last until the end of 2012.

Waste to Energy (w2e) – the hot topic

Sofia, Bulgaria will host the South East European Waste Management & Recycling Conference & Exhibition Save the Planet on 13-15 April 2011. The Netherlands will again be the partner country. Waste to Energy (w2e) will be the hot topic, focusing on Austria. Caroline Jackson, President of Environmental Protection UK, will open the event.

Green Energy and Waste Management Sectors in SE Europe enjoy a great interest!

The South-East European Congress on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Eco Forum for Waste Management & Recycling “Save the Planet” are great opportunities for the leading players in the sectors to bring modern technologies, products and services to the Region, to find new partners and clients. The events organized by Via Expo will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, in the period 13-15 April 2011.

No debt extension to 30 yrs on table -Greek finmin

Stretching out Greece’s bailout loan repayment will help debt servicing but there is no official proposal on the table to extend it to 30 years, the country’s finance minister said in a newspaper interview on Monday.

Project eases people’s paths in urban areas

EU-funded scientists are piloting a service that will allow people to determine the best way of making journeys in cities. As well as helping individuals find the most efficient route, the systems should cut congestion and lower the environmental impacts of road transport.

Foreign Investment in Kosovo Stalls

Direct foreign investment in Kosovo failed to pick up in 2010, remaining at well below the level achieved in 2007, new figures reveal. Kosovo is struggling to attract foreign businesses to the country, according to figures released by the Central Bank of Kosovo, CBK.

Serbs Head to Brussels With Complete Questionnaire

After responding to the EU queries within a record 45 days, the Serbian delegation has left for Brussels to present the document to the European Commission on Monday. Milica Delevic, head of Serbia’s office for EU integration, said Serbia had completed the task faster than most other EU applicants, which needed three or four months to fill in the queries.

Business investment rate nearly stable at 20.5% in the euro area and 20.0% in the EU27

In the third quarter of 2010, in both the euro area (EA16) and the EU27, the seasonally adjusted business investment rate remained stable at low levels, while the profit share grew. In the euro area, the business profit share continued to recover, as value added increased faster than wage costs. Stocks increased for the second quarter in a row, after five quarters of continuous destocking.