Southeast Europe / News
Serbian president accuses Rio Tinto’s rivals of being behind anti-mining protests
Rio Tinto is seeking to develop the Jadar lithium project in Serbia but faces strong opposition.
Omicron variant ends Romania’s stock market rally
In the final week of November, Romania’s stock market indices posted their steepest decline since the initial COVID-19 shock in February-March 2020.
EU challenges China’s Belt and Road with €300bn Global Gateway
Bloc’s giant investment offer may appeal to countries worried by Chinese “debt-trap diplomacy”. Beijing warns against geopoliticising infrastructure.
Erdogan makes ‘Albayrak’s man’ new finance minister with Turkey still mired in lira crisis
Move came at end of first day of ‘front door’ interventions by central bank on FX market that reportedly burnt up in excess of a billion dollars.
Montenegro’s biggest industrial plant KAP to halt production amid surging electricity prices
Montenegrin power company EPCG plans to hike the price it charges for electricity from January in line with rising prices on international markets.
Kosovo clamps down over omicron fears
Pristina follows governments of Croatia and Slovenia in tightening border restrictions but also introduces stricter rules for people inside the country.
Serbian government caps prices of basic foodstuffs as inflation soars
Prices of sugar, flour, sunflower oil and other basic foodstuffs to be frozen at November 15 level.
45.6% of Montenegrins think their country is going in the wrong direction
Just 31.9% of respondents said Montenegro is going in a good direction as many complained the government's priorities do not align with those of the population.
Employees of Croatia’s Rimac Automobili attacked by racists in Zagreb
Electric hypercar producer Rimac Automobili is one of the most successful Croatian companies and has an increasingly international workforce.
Weekend of protests against mining projects and pollution in Serbia
Clashes with police as environmental activists protest against legal changes they say benefit foreign investors in polluting projects.
Bulgaria’s likely new ruling coalition to make relations with North Macedonia a priority
The progress of both North Macedonia and Albania towards EU accession is stalled because of Bulgaria’s veto on the start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia.
Concern mounts over new southern Africa coronavirus variant
The EU is planning a ban on travel from southern African countries after a new and highly infectious variant of the coronavirus virus was confirmed in Botswana and South Africa.
Romanian parliament backs new government after long political crisis
PSD and PNL put rivalries aside to form new government led by Nicolae Ciuca, ending lengthy political crisis.
Moldova disburses €70mn from state budget to pay gas bill to Gazprom
Russian gas major had threatened to switch off gas supplies to Moldova over unpaid gas bill.
Croatia signs €999mn deal to buy 12 used Rafale fighter jets
Nato member Croatia signs deal to bolster its air defences after tender process was delayed by the pandemic.
Iranians cheered by collapse of lira flood over Turkish border for Black Friday shopping
With Iran’s rial typically suffering only bad news given US sanctions, day-trippers didn’t need telling twice to make journey to bag some bargains.
Bosnia risks running out of coal as miners refuse to return to work
Miners have gone home after two days of protests in Sarajevo, but say they won't return to the mines until their demands are met.
Bulgaria confirms veto on start of EU membership talks with North Macedonia
Bulgarian decision blocks opening of EU accession talks with both North Macedonia and Albania.
Bosnian coal miners hold mass protest in Sarajevo
6,500 miners from seven mines in the Bosnian Federation held a protest in Sarajevo, forcing a shutdown of mining in the entity.
Moscow claims US rehearsing nuclear strike against Russia as East-West tensions rise further
Russia claims that US bombers flying only 20 km from Russia’s border were rehearsing a nuclear strike on Russia from two different directions earlier this month, the Defence Ministry said in a statement on November 23.
