European Commission agrees to hold membership talks with Bosnia News
European Commission agrees to hold membership talks with Bosnia

[JURIST] The European Commission [official website] agreed Friday to negotiate with Bosnia [JURIST news archive] to form a cooperation agreement that may result in the country's full membership to the European Union. The commission said that in order for talks to move forward, Bosnia should improve relations with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia [official website], adopt public broadcasting laws, and implement reforms to stop ethnic division in the police force. An agreement with Bosnia will open up economic ties and free trade between the EU and Bosnia and will bring the country's laws more in line with EU standards. Similar arrangements have been signed by the EU for Croatia and Macedonia, and are currently under negotiation for Serbia-Montenegro and Albania. The decision to negotiate with Bosnia still must be approved by the 25 current EU member states. The EU has Bosnian enlargement background materials. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.