Tag "Balkans"
Western Balkans: A ‘Mini-Schengen’ Zone
Leaders of Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia declared they would implement a mini-Schengen zone with free movement of goods, capital, services, & people
A Balkan ‘Spring’ or Protests Doomed to Fail?
Since late 2018, the main opposition parties in Albania, Montenegro and Serbia have been boycotting their respective parliaments. Public protests have supported this, initiating a Balkan ‘spring’. Will the protests succeed or fail?
Kosovo: Creating a full army out of its security force
Last December, the Government of Kosovo declared that it is turning the Kosovo Security Force into a fully fledged army. This development greatly concerns Serbia, which still maintains that Albanian-dominated Kosovo is Serbian territory.
Turkey’s expedited European extraditions
Turkey’s ongoing effort to dismantle the supporters for Fethullah Gülen has underlined its influence in southeast Europe, where multiple countries have hurried to comply with requested Turkish extraditions. This raises hard questions
The challenge of female ISIS returnees in the Balkans
As hundreds of foreign fighters from the Western Balkans return home, it’s unclear whether governments are prepared to deal with the issues of prosecution and rehabilitation. Leonie Vrugtman explores the challenges posed, especially by female returnees.
Chinese economic interests and the threat to EU cohesion
Today, some of Europe’s poorest countries are critical to China’s global economic development strategy. Under the 16+1 sub-regional framework, which includes eleven countries from central and eastern Europe and five from the Balkans (CEEC), China is pursuing investment opportunities in infrastructure in order to enhance its connectivity with the European region.
Powering Europe’s newest nation: Investigating the Kosovo energy crisis
Last month, Kosovo reached a deal with two private property owners to access some of the lignite coal it needs to supply its power plants.
Future Generator: Bosnia’s near-term media coverage to be increasingly negative
Rising tensions following Bosnia’s appeal to the ICJ ruling on Serbia’s war-time actions are likely to create a negative perception of the country.
ICTY’s acquittal of Seselj poses risks for Serbia ahead of elections
The ICTY’s acquittal of ultranationalist Serbian politician Vojislav Seselj has significant consequences for the future of Serbia, the Balkans, and Europe.
Migrant pressure threatens to overwhelm Greece
Europe is facing the biggest migration flow since the Second World War. Indeed, while in 2014, 219,000 refugees were fleeing the ongoing conflict in Syria, 350,000 others were crossing the Mediterranean Sea
