Balkans

The rising superpower may confront some checks from its rivals in the Western Balkans this year – though probably not enough to significantly curb its regional ambitions. The second year of the COVID pandemic has deeply transformed global relations. Major world powers underwent significant political and economic changes while learning …

North Macedonia starts 2022 with a new PM and largely refreshed cabinet that will have no time to spare, as both the government and the country’s stalled EU process are in a precarious, volatile state.It was a tough 2021 for North Macedonia. On top of the ongoing health, economic and …

The Croatian government offered promises of renewal after the Petrinja earthquake but one year on, its actions have fallen short. BIRN uncovers how Petrinja was abandoned by the state, long before it was hit by an earthquake.The cafe in central Petrinja is crowded and buzzing with Saturday afternoon regulars. Outside …

The Albanian capital of Tirana was rocked by protests on Saturday (8 January) as one warring faction of the opposition Democratic Party (PD) used force to enter their own headquarters. Police special forces dispersed demonstrators, and several arrests were made. The conflict came after the founder of the party and …

New Bulgarian PM Petkov faces a struggle reconciling the competing demands of his coalition allies if Bulgaria is to go a year without yet another election. With three parliamentary and two presidential elections and the fall from power of Boyko Borissov, 2021 was one of the most eventful years in …

The US administration has imposed sanctions on several Bosnian officials and a TV station for alleged corruption and for trying to destabilise Bosnia and Herzegovina, but experts said these measures alone might not do much to ease the country’s political crisis. Bosnian Serb political leader Milorad Dodik, his adviser and …

Serbian president may face an unusually tough year as a fragmented opposition consolidates itself and environmental protests continue. Ayear marked by crime and corruption scandals in the ruling Serbian Progressive Party caused some internal rife in this normally monolith party.

Prosecutors in Albania say a former minister used a remarkably simple scheme to funnel big bribes for public contracts. It still took them several years to find him out.On September 26, 2016, a warehouseman at state-owned Albania Railways called Arber Denizi opened his own business for the import and export …

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the Yugoslav wars, Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. Although the Balkan states moved toward democratic governance and integration with NATO and the European Union in the immediate aftermath of the wars, consistent neglect on the part of the …

North Macedonia is facing calls to address the threat from right-wing groups and far-right extremism when its national counter-terrorism strategy comes up for renewal next year. The current strategy, which covers the period 2018-2022, focuses primarily on religious extremism and Islamic radicalisation. The European Commission, the executive arm of the …