Reform
PACE asks Turkey's Constitutional Court to rule according to European principles
24/06/2008
ANKARA, Turkey -- The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) urged Turkey's Constitutional Court on Monday (June 23rd) to rule in lin...
Kosovo's Sejdiu enacts 41 statehood laws
16/06/2008
PRISTINA, Kosovo -- As the new constitution took effect on Sunday (June 15th), President Fatmir Sejdiu signed 41 laws involving statehood, 22 derived...
Turkey seeks an exit strategy from headscarf crisis
16/06/2008
After his election victory last year, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to become a "prime minister of all Turkey", but opponents accuse him of spearheading an Islamic agenda rather than moving on broadly supported liberal reforms. As the controversy threatens to engulf Turkish politics, some are urging a new consensus.
Turkey's ruling party submits its defense to Constitutional Court
16/06/2008
ANKARA, Turkey -- The ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) potential banning will deepen divisions in Turkey and worsen ties with the EU, acc...
Albanian parliament passes property legalisation amendments
10/06/2008
TIRANA, Albania -- Parliament on Monday (June 9th) passed amendments to the law on the legalisation, urbanisation and integration of illegal property...
Turkey's ruling party steps up criticism of judiciary
25/05/2008
ANKARA, Turkey -- A leading member of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said Friday (May 23rd) accused the Turkish judiciary of app...
Turkey's Constitutional Court rapporteur recommends scrapping scarf case
18/05/2008
ANKARA, Turkey -- Osman Can, rapporteur at the Constitutional Court, issued a non-binding recommendation Friday (May 16th) to reject the ongoing case...
Berisha says more changes ahead for Albania's constitution
12/05/2008
TIRANA, Albania -- The ruling Democratic Party (DP) wants to amend the constitution again soon by lifting immunity for lawmakers. Prime Minister Sali...
Albanian opposition leader to petition for referendum on constitutional changes
06/05/2008
TIRANA, Albania -- Opposition Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) leader Ilir Meta accused lawmakers on Monday (May 5th) of having lost their fr...
Kosovo lawmakers debate government programme
22/04/2008
PRISTINA, Kosovo -- The government's report on its first 100 days in office and its 2008-2011 development programme sparked heated debate in parliame...
European Parliament committee considers report on Turkey
21/04/2008
ANKARA, Turkey -- The European Parliament's committee on foreign affairs will vote on a draft report on Turkey on Monday (April 21st). A final vote b...
EU envoy Feith says decentralisation is key to Ahtisaari plan for Kosovo
16/04/2008
PRISTINA, Kosovo -- EU special envoy to Kosovo Pieter Feith said on Tuesday (April 15th) he would actively support the decentralisation process in Ko...
Albania edges towards constitutional changes
15/04/2008
TIRANA, Albania -- Parliament's committee on legal issues and the law approved constitutional changes Monday (April 14th) aimed at reforming the elec...
Albania's DCP criticises DP's stance on electoral system reforms
14/04/2008
TIRANA, Albania -- At a Demo-Christian Party (DCP) conference Sunday (April 13th), leader Leonard Ndoka said that, on most issues, the ruling Democra...
Turkish government proposes amendments to law limiting freedom of speech
08/04/2008
The Turkish government sent a proposal to parliament Monday aimed at softening a widely criticised law that curbs free speech.
