World

Von der Leyen vows to bring Western Balkan and EU economies ‘closer’

Published

8 months ago

October 30, 2023

Von der Leyen vows to bring Western Balkan and EU economies ‘closer’

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed to bring the economies of the Western Balkans and the European Union ‘closer’ on Monday as she began a four-day tour of the region.

Speaking in the capitals of North Macedonia and Kosovo, von der Leyen pledged to double both countries’ economies in the next decade as part of the EU’s €6 billion growth plan for the Western Balkans, seen as a stepping stone to EU accession.

But the path to EU membership can only open up if political reforms are implemented in both countries, according to von der Leyen.

In Pristina, she said success is dependent on the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, which have come under immense strain since a Kosovar policeman was killed by armed paramilitary troops trained in Serbian military bases in late September.

The EU’s growth plan will see Western Balkan companies gain access to the EU’s single market in seven sectors in exchange for key reforms, including ensuring sound public administration and finances, the independence of the judiciary and a crackdown on corruption. The Commission will publish an assessment of countries’ progress in meeting the reforms on November 8.

The EU will also inject money into strategic investments to incentivise such reforms and to bring the two blocs’ economies closer together. The Western Balkan region could see its GDP jump by 10% as a result, von der Leyen said on Monday.

“The economy of Kosovo is at 27% of the EU average income, so there is a lot of untapped potential,” von der Leyen said in a joint press conference in Pristina with President Vjosa Osmani.

“We should try to double your economy within a decade,” she added, making the same pledge earlier in Skopje to North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski. The North Macedonian economy stands at 42% of the average income in the EU.

But von der Leyen emphasised to both Osmani and Kovačevski that political reforms need to be delivered for money to be disbursed under the growth plan and for the process of accession to the EU to progress.

‘Success’ dependent on reforms

In Kosovo, von der Leyen issued a warning that the relations between Belgrade and Pristina must be normalised before Pristina can benefit from the growth plan or progress on the path to EU membership.

“We all have our history,” von der Leyen said. “The history of enlargement is a history of countries that came out of the Second World War. It is a history of peace and of reconciliation and of normalisation of relations, and therefore this is a precondition to join the European Union.”

“We all know we only can achieve all these steps forward and successes if Kosovo and Serbia normalize relations. It is absolutely crucial for both to engage, to cooperate,” she added. “And we’ve discussed the topic together that Kosovo could launch the procedure to establish the Association of Serb-majority municipalities.”

EU leaders – including the French President, the German Chancellor and the Italian premier – failed to broker an agreement during discussions last week on the increasing tensions between Belgrade and Pristina.

The bloc wants Kosovo to establish a so-called association of Serb-majority municipalities in the north of the country, and for Serbia to “deliver on de-facto recognition” of Kosovo, which it continues to consider its province despite Kosovo declaring independence in 2008.

Von der Leyen will meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade on Tuesday.

Skopje, meanwhile, has already taken steps to amend its constitution to recognise the Bulgarian minority living within its territory and annually review its relations with Sofia, in a French-brokered deal aimed at lifting Bulgaria’s veto on opening EU accession talks.

But the changes are being blocked by the main conservative opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE.

“The first steps have been taken in your parliament – and that is good news,” von der Leyen said in reference to the North Macedonian constitutional reform. “Now, I hope that all parties will seize this opportunity to move forward. Because there is a true momentum now, all over the European Union and those countries who want to join the European Union, for the enlargement process.”

This article was amended as it erroneously said the EU’s growth plan for the Western Balkan was worth €60 billion, instead of €6 billion.

Click to comment

World

No fairytale return to Germany for Lewandowski

Published

5 hours ago

June 22, 2024

Press Room

No fairytale return to Germany for Lewandowski

Given Germany is where Robert Lewandowski forged his fearsome reputation, Euro 2024 would have been a fitting arena for the Polish poacher to add significant gloss to an illustrious career and potentially end his international playing days on a high.

World

Medical intern surprises would-be sexual abuser with hidden talent: 'Those lessons saved my life'

Published

5 hours ago

June 22, 2024

Press Room

Medical intern surprises would-be sexual abuser with hidden talent: 'Those lessons saved my life'

Thai medical intern fights off drunken male nurse

A petite Thai medical intern uses Muay Thai kicks to fight off a drunken male nurse assaulting her in a hospital. Petcharaporn Phadungjai, 22, said she was working a nightshift when the colleague crept up behind her and groped her. (via ViralPress)

A medical intern in Thailand fought off a drunk nurse who tried to grope her one night, busting out fighting skills that helped her kick her would-be assaulter to the curb.

“I have been doing Muay Thai boxing since I was a kid,” Petcharaporn Phadungjai, 22, told reporters. “I know how to kick, knee and punch someone. I know how to wrestle with them. It was my instinctive reaction to protect myself.”

“I’m lucky my grandfather taught me self-defense skills when I was a young girl,” she added. “Those lessons saved my life.”

CCTV footage from around midnight shows the 30-year-old male nurse approaching Petcharaporn from behind as she picked up some food before leaving for the night. He first circles behind her as though just wandering around the area aimlessly before turning and reaching for her.

ANIMAL CARETAKERS IN THAILAND ‘SHOCKED’ AFTER SURPRISE BIRTH OF RARE TWIN ELEPHANTS

Petcharaporn Phadungjai, a 22-year-old medical intern in Thailand, fought off a would-be sexual abuser with Muay Thai. (ViralPress)

As soon as the nurse’s arms wrap around the intern, she grabs him and drives him back towards the far wall. He keeps a strong grip on her, but as soon as she faces him, she drives her knee into his groin, giving herself a chance to pull free.

Once separated, she kicks him again, striking him in the stomach before setting into a defensive stance and yelling at him to back off.

DOZENS ARRESTED AS THAI POLICE DISMANTLE CRIME NETWORK THAT FACILITATED LONG-TERM STAYS FOR FOREIGNERS

A petite Thai medical intern used Muay Thai kicks to fight off a drunk male nurse assaulting her in a hospital. Speaking out publicly for the first time since the incident, Petcharaporn Phadungjai, 22 (pictured) said she was working a nightshift when the colleague crept up behind her and groped her in Samut Prakan, Thailand. But he was unaware that her hobby is Muay Thai boxing, and she kneed him in the crotch then kicked him in the stomach to subdue the alleged attacker.

The hospital reported the incident to the police and fired the nurse as allegations that he had similarly harassed other female interns emerged, ViralPress reported.

Petcharaporn said she had ordered dinner but could not pick it up herself, so the nurse, who was drinking at a neighboring food stall, offered to bring it to her. She had to go to the general ward, because men are not allowed in the women’s ward.

THAI TOWN OVERRUN BY WILD MONKEYS LAUNCHES CAPTURE AND RELOCATION OPERATION

Muay Thai fighters warm up ahead of a Rajadamnern World Series Muay Thai tournament at Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on March 9, 2024. (Valeria Mongelli/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“When he arrived, he told me to scan the QR code to pay for the food,” Petcharaporn said. “I placed the phone on the desk, and that’s when he grabbed me from behind.”

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

She alleged that the nurse had flirted with her during her internship, often calling her “darling” or indicating he liked her, but she had treated it as teasing. She also revealed that she feared that he would try to rape her if she didn’t fight him off.

Thailand suffers a significant sexual violence problem, with at least seven women sexually assaulted or abused per day, according to a report from the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC).

Peter Aitken is a Fox News Digital reporter with a focus on national and global news.

World

Houthis claim attack on ship that docked in Israel

Published

6 hours ago

June 22, 2024

Press Room

Houthis claim attack on ship that docked in Israel

Houthis say the commercial vessel was targeted for using an Israeli port as they step up their campaign in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

The Houthis in Yemen say they launched attacks on a commercial vessel after it used an Israeli port, and on a US aircraft carrier ordered home after months of responding to sea attacks launched because of the war on Gaza.

Yahya Saree, the military spokesman of the Iran-aligned group, said in a televised announcement on Saturday the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Transworld Navigator was directly hit by ballistic missiles in the Arabian Sea.

“The ship was targeted because the company that owns it violated the ban of entry into the ports of occupied Palestine,” he said, alluding to an earlier threat that all ships docking at Israeli ports would be considered targets.

The attack came after the sinking this week of the ship MV Tutor, which appears to mark a new escalation in the campaign against commercial vessels in vital maritime corridors.

Saree also claimed an attack using ballistic and cruise missiles on the USS Eisenhower, which has led US Navy operations in the region since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza.

Saree said “the operation has achieved its objectives successfully” without elaborating. One unnamed US official told Reuters news agency the claim “is incorrect”.

The Houthis and social media accounts supporting them have repeatedly falsely claimed to hit or even sink the aircraft carrier in the Red Sea.

The announcement came shortly after US officials reportedly ordered the USS Eisenhower to return home after more than eight months of deployment, with another aircraft carrier operating in the Pacific set to replace it.

UKMTO WARNING
INCIDENT 088 – ATTACK – UPDATE 001https://t.co/fX3hWupPWO#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/yDrCzyfawN
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) June 21, 2024
Advertisement

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Friday that a vessel was attacked 126 nautical miles (233km) east of Aden in Yemen. It said the master reported “explosions in the vicinity of the vessel” and the crew is safe.

The Houthis pledged to continue their military operations, which they have said are in support of Palestinians and will only stop when the siege of Gaza is lifted.

The group has launched more than 60 attacks, sunk two commercial ships, seized another, and attacked dozens more since the start of the war.

In March, the Houthis killed three people after one of its antiship ballistic missiles set the Barbados-flagged True Confidence on fire.

The US and United Kingdom militaries have launched air raids across Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen to weaken the group’s military capabilities.