Balkan Press

THE EU ENLARGEMENT AFTER BREXIT Case Study: the Western Balkans

Among the complex consequences of United Kingdom’s recent decision to withdraw from the European Union (Brexit), one of the main problems for the Union’s leaders – indeed, a component of the EU’s future – is the EU enlargement process, notably the accession of the six countries of the Western Balkans …

Read More »

THE FUTURE OF EUROPE: A NEW “VALEV PLAN”?

Following last autumn’s “state of the Union” speech, that outlined a vision for a federal Europe[1], the “Blueprint for a deep and genuine economic and monetary union”, unveiled recently by José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, to be submitted at the December 2012 European Union Summit and debated …

Read More »

Albania’s EU Reform Efforts in 2012 Praised

A report released on Monday by the Open Society Foundation in Tirana says Albania strengthened the planning and implementation of EU reform priorities in 2012.The report said that by October 2012, 46 per cent of Albania’s EU reform commitments had been totally implemented and 32 per cent had been partially …

Read More »

Serbia Lifts Ban on Late Night Sale of Alcohol

Serbia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that a ban on the sale of alcohol after 10pm in Belgrade is unconstitutional.After a year and a half, Belgraders will again be able to buy alcohol after 10 pm after the court deemed the ban unconstitutional. The city authorities in the Serbian capital introduced …

Read More »

EUROSCEPTICISM: TRIGGERING EUROPE’S TRANSFORMATION

The recent violent manifestations in Greece, Spain and Portugal, as well as the developments of the Euro zone crisis indicate a clear increase of the Euroscepticism, as well as a disturbing trend towards the politisation of the economic problems that several European countries are currently facing. Analysts are currently assessing …

Read More »

EULEX Seeks Regional Help in Organ Trafficking Probe

During his visit to Montenegro, Clint Williamson, head of the EULEX task force in charge of the Kosovo organ trafficking case, has called for regional cooperation in the investigation.Williamson met the Montenegrin interior minister, Ivan Brajovic, on Thursday. He presented the efforts of his team, which was formed in October …

Read More »

Albania Downplays Risks of New Greek Border Talks

Albania’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday played down the risks of trying to renegotiate a maritime border deal with Greece, which Albania’s Constitutional Court has deemed unlawful.“There are no reports or secret scripts regarding the issue of the maritime border between Greece and Albania,” the Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry, …

Read More »

Regional Cooperation Vital for Security

To fight modern organized crime, the Balkan countries must work together to improve security and stability in the region, a regional security conference in Sarajevo has concluded.The conference – titled “Balkan security – The challenges within cyber infrastructure“ – was held in Sarajevo on September 13, and it was attended …

Read More »

Wife Tried to Dissuade US Embassy Gunman

The US embassy attacker, Mevlid Jasarevic, was removed from court for showing disrespect while his wife’s statement was read out; in it, she recalled her attempts to disssuade him from going to Sarajevo.The statement of Mirela Demirovic, Jasarevic’s unmarried wife, previously given to investigators, was read out at the trial …

Read More »

“ANTI-SYSTEM” ON A RISING TREND – PERSPECTIVES FOR EUROPE

Recent developments in Europe, where the economic crisis continues to affect the political and social life, are showing a worrying rise of the “traditional” extreme – both right and left – parties, as well as of the newer “anti-system” or  “fringe” movements that oppose the existing institutions (especially the global …

Read More »