Balkans

From Moldova to Montenegro, everyone seems to be in a hurry, though perhaps for different reasons. Meanwhile, in some corners of south-east Europe, the gloves are coming off, in more ways than one. In a Hurry Moldova is working hard to strike while the proverbial EU enlargement iron is hot …

Young people growing up in the multi-ethnic Brcko District in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina say that although they cannot remember the 1992-95 war, its bitter divisions still cast a shadow over their lives. “I grew up in a post-war situation and there’s a lot of, like, fear of war… a …

The work of reconciliation is hampered by the way some historians in both countries don’t want to deconstruct the political myths embedded in the teaching of history.Since Bulgaria and North Macedonia signed a landmark friendship agreement in 2017, a joint commission focused on history has been working to bridge their …

The governments of Sweden and Finland have formally submitted their applications to join NATO after thorough discussion within their respective parliaments. The move will prove to be the latest and arguably the most significant development from the West in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “I warmly welcome the requests …

Belgrade enjoys warm ties with Moscow but in recent weeks, pro-government tabloids have turned on Putin. “Ukraine attacks Russia!” and “Putin checkmates Ukraine,” were among the headlines run by Serbia’s pro-government tabloids at the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Putin is sending his army to unite Serbia and [Bosnia’s …

How U.S. Policy Is Making a Bad Situation Worse In the Balkans, and especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina, images from Ukraine of besieged cities, massacres, and mass displacement are re-traumatizing a society that has never been allowed to heal after the wars that followed the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991. …

Developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region are unfolding at a breakneck pace. Blink an eye and one is bound to miss a new multilateral initiative, an impressive military exercise or even the creation of an international organization. Greece is very much in the middle of this diplomatic and military frenzy, …

Μέχρι σήμερα η Τουρκία προσπαθεί να εκμεταλλευθεί όπως μπορεί τη συμμετοχή της στο ΝΑΤΟ, δίχως η ίδια να προσφέρει ό,τι απαιτείται για τους συμμάχους, υποσκάπτοντας μάλιστα τη συνοχή του συνασπισμού, με τη συμπεριφορά της απέναντι στην Ελλάδα. Τώρα, η Άγκυρα αισθάνεται πως η παρασιτική της σχέση με το ΝΑΤΟ μπορεί …

While Europe shows compassion to refugees from Ukraine, those from outside Europe face the same obstacles to get to the West as before – as BIRN found out on a nighttime visit to a forest in northern Serbia. If you didn’t know the context, it might look like a rave …

With political will and the right incentives, a number of Balkan states could provide Ukraine with significant Soviet-made weaponry in its fight against Russia. From T-72 tanks to BMP infantry fighting vehicles, Mi-24 gunships to Strela anti-aircraft missiles, the countries of the Balkans have a lot to offer when it …