Balkans

Ever-closer cooperation with Baku has the potential to relieve the Balkan states’ worryingly high levels of energy dependence on Moscow. Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, visited two Balkan countries one week apart in November this year. During the first trip, to Albania, it was decided to establish an Azerbaijani diplomatic mission. …

Thousands of migrants are trapped in Slovakia as the Czechs prevent them from crossing into their territory, while Hungary refuses to take back those that crossed from there into Slovakia. The government is struggling to come up with a solution. On the balcony of one of several blocks of flats …

Заедно можем повече, отколкото поотделно Добрата новина в лошата е, че заедно не ни пуснаха в Шенген с Румъния. Ако само България бе останала нищо чудно да ни бяха изхвърлили изобщо от ЕС. И без това ни редят в нещо като Б група, но ако бяхме само ние щеше да …

Kroatien soll zum Schengen-Raum dazugehören, Rumänien und Bulgarien aber nicht. Wären Menschenrechte das Kriterium, dann sähe es auch für Kroatien düster aus. Die Freizügigkeit ist eine der wichtigsten Errungenschaften der Europäischen Union (EU). Wer will, dass Europa enger zusammenwächst, kann es deswegen nur begrüßen, wenn der Schengen-Raum erweitert wird, in …

Witnesses told the Hague Tribunal that the notorious Scorpions unit was controlled by the Serbian Interior Ministry during the Yugoslav wars. Can an in-depth analysis of the court’s archives establish the truth? Material in the archives of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, ICTY indicates that the Scorpions …

Mevlut Cavusoglu has stepped up rhetoric over Aegean islands that Ankara says should be free of Greek arms. Turkey’s feud with neighbor and fellow NATO member Greece resurfaced Tuesday as Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu threatened to “do whatever is necessary” unless Athens reverses the militarization of its islands off the …

Honorary consuls are supposed to foster cooperation between two countries. In several cases involving Albania, they have dabbled in crime too. On February 27, 2013, the then Sheraton hotel in Tirana was illuminated in the colours of the Mexican and Albanian flags. Inside, a band played mariachi music, women wore …

Anyone can declare their nationality as they see fit, but experts say some politicians in Bosnia are abusing the right for political gain. In October 2018, Zvonko Maric was elected as a deputy in the cantonal assembly of Sarajevo, one of 10 that make up the mainly Bosniak and Croat …

Since the licence plate crisis erupted, Kosovo’s Prime Minister has become sandwiched between criticism coming from all sides, both at home and abroad. Kosovo’s Prime Minister has endured an eventful few weeks, with criticism coming from all over the place, both home and abroad – until he agreed to withdraw …

Zoran Milanovic’s offensive approach to neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina underscores the folly in the theory that EU membership would raise standards and encourage good neighbourly relations. When Croatia joined the European Union in 2013, the vast majority of academics and pundits in Bosnia and Herzegovina were enthusiastic; they believed that …