Kosovo
Kosovan police clash with Serbs in Mitrovica in anti-smuggling operation
Police and smugglers injured in shootout as officers seize smuggled goods worth hundreds of thousands of euros.
Rooting out corruption proves a tough job in North Macedonia
The Social Democrat-led government came to power pledging a vigorous and transparent fight against corruption, but tackling entrenched corruption has not been easy.
Kosovo raises tensions again with new anti-dumping measures on Serbia
Measures on some products imported from Serbia imposed shortly after Belgrade and Pristina reached a temporary agreement to ease the crisis sparked by new rules for car number plates.
Von der Leyen says EU has to deliver on enlargement
EU leaders reaffirmed their support for enlargement at summit in Slovenia, but they did not set any firm timeline.
Western Balkans falling further behind eastern EU members
Neither regional integration nor closer ties with EU have led to increased trade, investment or overall prosperity in the region, says a new report from wiiw and Bertelsmann Stiftung.
Threat of new EU travel restrictions looms ahead of Western Balkan summit
Ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit on October 6, a leaked EU document revealed that several EU member states are seeking to restrict visa-free travel for some nationals from the region as well as other East European countries.
BALKAN BLOG: Elusive enlargement and a reignited conflict
Despite the positive words from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, it was clear that the accession of counties from the region to the EU remains elusive and has no clear timescale.
Kosovo’s parliament expects to approve law on cryptocurrency by year-end
Crypto mining is popular in northern Kosovo, where citizens have received free electricity since the end of the Serbia-Kosovo war.
Serbia and Kosovo strike temporary deal
Standoff to end in northern Kosovo after officials reach agreement ending crisis sparked by Kosovo's new rules for car number plates.
EU and US officials try to defuse Kosovo-Serbia tensions
Representatives of both sides in Brussels for talks after Pristina's decision to make Serbian drivers to replace their plates with temporary ones to enter Kosovo elevated tensions in northern Kosovo.
Kosovo’s economic growth speeds up to 16.3% y/y in 2Q21
Strong performance in retail, hospitality and construction sectors drove up Kosovo's GDP.
COMMENT: New skirmish between Serbia and Kosovo threatens the future of dialogue
Without a comprehensive normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, tensions will continue to fester and the daily lives of Kosovo’s Serbs and Albanians alike will be sorely affected.
Croatia reports dozens of state-sponsored cyber attacks in 2020
Most attacks were attempts to break into the information and communication systems of the foreign and European affairs ministry and the defence ministry.
Nato troops step up presence on Kosovo-Serbian border
Tensions have reached a 10-year high since new rules set by Pristina forced Serbian drivers to change their number plates to enter Kosovo.
Backlash against efforts to force citizens to get vaccinated in Southeast Europe
As low vaccination rates facilitated a new wave of the pandemic, governments are barring entry to malls, night clubs and other venues to those without a coronavirus certificate.
Tension in Kosovo escalates following car plates tit-for-tat measure against Serbia
Protests erupt after drivers from Serbia are forced to replace their license plates with temporary ones to enter Kosovo.
Merkel says EU should “keep its word” in relations with accession candidates
After EU accession progress was blocked by Bulgaria, Albanian PM Edi Rama tells German chancellor Western Balkans are “held hostage” by nationalism in EU countries.
HICP inflation in Kosovo hits 4.7% in August
High inflation over the past 12 months has reversed the effects of several months of deflation in the first part of 2020.
Construction prices in Kosovo surge by 12.1% y/y in Q2
Price of materials surged by 8.6% q/q, accounting for nearly 70% of the total construction costs.
Western Balkans coal power plants defy emissions rules, causing thousands of deaths
Air pollution from coal-fired power plants in the Western Balkans caused the deaths of around 19,000 people in three years, says a new study.
