Balkan Insight (original) (raw)

Economic Focus

Brussels Scrutinises Serbian Airline Regulation after Wizz Air Complaint

Low-cost carrier Wizz Air has warned changes to an air transport regulation in Serbia may force it to quit Belgrade.

News

Croatia Mulls Life Prison Terms – Indefinite Detention of ‘Socially Dangerous’

Prompted by shocking murder case in May, Justice Minister proposes life sentences and continued detention of some offenders even after they have completed their sentences.

News

Bulgarian Ruling Party Backs ‘Family’ March on Same Day as LGBT Pride

Review

Week in Review: Flamingos, Think Tankers and Returning Radicals

Editor’s choice

Analysis

Balkan States Scramble to Act as EU Migration Pact Takes Effect

Review

Democracy Digest: Poland and Ukraine Seek to Contain Fallout from WWII Dispute

Analysis

Can Central Europe Once Again Punch Above its Weight?

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News

Croatia Mulls Life Prison Terms – Indefinite Detention of ‘Socially Dangerous’

Prompted by shocking murder case in May, Justice Minister proposes life sentences and continued detention of some offenders even after they have completed their sentences.

Bulgarian Ruling Party Backs ‘Family’ March on Same Day as LGBT Pride

New ruling party confirms support for ‘March of the Family’ celebrating ‘traditional’ values on Saturday – coinciding with Sofia Pride parade.

US Lifts Albanian Opposition Leader Berisha’s ‘Persona Non Grata’ Status

BIRN Launches Exhibition on Wartime Expulsion of Kosovo Albanians by Rail

Croatian President Urged to Strip Convicted War Criminal Glavas of Rank

Croatian Court Upholds Conviction of Branimir Glavas for Osijek War Crimes

Most recent

Croatia Mulls Life Prison Terms – Indefinite Detention of ‘Socially Dangerous’

Week in Review: Flamingos, Think Tankers and Returning Radicals

Bulgarian Ruling Party Backs ‘Family’ March on Same Day as LGBT Pride

Reporting Democracy

Analysis

Stray Drones, Rising Anxiety: How the Ukraine War Is Testing Romania’s Defences

Interview

Nobel Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk: ‘Justice Is Not the Privilege of Winners’

Video

ARTE Europe Weekly: How Botox Has Hit the Mainstream

Premium

June 12, 2026

Week in Review: Flamingos, Think Tankers and Returning Radicals

Our selection of Premium stories digs deep into a lively week, as Europe limps towards rebooting the enlargement system, votes in Kosovo are counted and Albanians throw off a reputation for apathy.

June 12, 2026

Balkan States Scramble to Act as EU Migration Pact Takes Effect

Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece and Romania are racing to implement new EU asylum rules, as right-wingers demand crackdowns and campaigners warn of threats to human rights.

June 12, 2026

Democracy Digest: Poland and Ukraine Seek to Contain Fallout from WWII Dispute

Elsewhere, Slovak president urged to halt controversial ambassador pick for Cyprus; Czech defence minister calls for increase in defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP; and Hungary’s government submits omnibus bill designed to unlock frozen EU funds.

June 12, 2026

Stray Drones, Rising Anxiety: How the Ukraine War Is Testing Romania’s Defences

Drone incursions have heightened fears that the war in Ukraine is spilling into Romania, exposing vulnerabilities in the NATO member’s air and maritime defences.

June 11, 2026

For Some Bosnian War Survivors, Muslim Festival is Wrapped up in Grief and Trauma

For many Bosniak survivors of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bajram) brings back painful memories of executions and burned homes in June 1992.

June 11, 2026

Can Central Europe Once Again Punch Above its Weight?

Repairing Polish-Hungarian relations is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for resolving the broader challenges facing the V4 regional alliance of Central European states.

June 12, 2026

Week in Review: Flamingos, Think Tankers and Returning Radicals

Our selection of Premium stories digs deep into a lively week, as Europe limps towards rebooting the enlargement system, votes in Kosovo are counted and Albanians throw off a reputation for apathy.

Opinions

Albania’s ‘Flamingo Revolution’ is About More Than Kushner and Birds

Gamechanger? Bosnia’s World Cup Participation Could Create Moment of Collective Pride

Letter from Brussels: Getting Creative about EU Enlargement in the Balkans

Washington’s Retreat from its Bosnia Policy Leaves Country Adrift

Europe’s Enlargement’s Bargain on Ukraine, Balkans, Risks Backfiring

Investigations

Behind a Trump-Linked Albanian Resort Project, a Host of Murky Interests

Serbia Grows its Facial Recognition Arsenal Amid Legality Concerns

Sole Bidder: SUVs in Kosovo Attack Lead to String of Suspect Serbian Tenders

Acrimony and Accusations Hold up Construction of Albanian Port

In Pictures

June 12, 2026

Protest Memes Bring Political Satire to Albania’s Streets

June 5, 2026

Decade of Pride: Tenth Pristina Parade Makes Call for Equality

May 25, 2026

Tito’s Admirers Pay Their Annual Tribute to Yugoslavia’s Strongman

May 25, 2026

Turkish Police Raid Main Opposition Party HQ to Eject Leadership

May 18, 2026

New Hungarian PM Opens Orban’s Office to the Public

In Focus

Political Row Flares in Bulgaria Over ‘Illegal Estate’ Linked to Ukrainian Tycoon

Democracy Digest: Czechia and Poland Urge Ban on Russian Tourist Visas

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Image-Based Abuse on the Rise in Greece, But so Often Unpunished

‘Failure in Prevention’: Iran-Linked Hackers, Stolen Albanian Data and an FBI Sting

Iran-Linked Hackers Target Albanian Post in Latest Attack

SEE ALL

Vucic Visit Shows China is Now Belgrade’s Key Partner, not Russia

‘We Mostly Use FedEx, DHL’: Balkan Ads Offering Opioids Traced to China

As One Door Closes, Another Opens: Chinese Migrants Crossing the Balkans

SEE ALL

Dead Man’s Key: The Crypto Scandal Putting Poland’s President on the Spot

European Parliament Lifts Romanian Far-Right MEP’s Immunity

Ex-PM Jadranka Kosor: Croatia Risks Becoming ‘Scorched Earth’ with Current Politics

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Countries

Albania

News

Western Balkans Youth Need More Skills to Recognise Online Fakes: BIRN Report

Last Straw: Albania’s ‘Flamingo Revolution’ Fuelled by Long-Standing Grievances

Albanian Protests Mount Against Kushner-Linked Luxury Resort

Letter from London: Close to Boiling Point

Bosnia and Herzegovina

News

US Blames ‘European Divisions’ for Failure to Elect Bosnia High Representative

Europe Using ‘Healthcare Denial’ to Stop Migrants Reaching West, Report Claims

Osim, Dzeko and Bosnia’s Valiant World Cup Football Odyssey

Why Bosnia Still Needs a High Representative

Bulgaria

Review

Week in Review: Knots and Pivots

Asylum, Bulgarian-Style: Deterrence Has Turned Into Abuse, Corruption and Crime

Bulgaria Stops US Military Aircraft Refuelling After Crossing Swords With Trump

Letter from Washington: US Puts Energy, Commerce at Core of Balkans Policy

Croatia

Review

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: June 8, 2026

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: June 1, 2026

Croatia Ex-Transport Minister Convicted in Corruption Case

Croatia Unveils Taxes on ‘Excess’ Profits and Short-Term Rentals

Kosovo

Analysis

Kosovo Election: Kurti Must Heed Message of Voters Tired of Crises

EU Congratulates Kurti on Kosovo Election Win, Urges ‘Compromise’

Kurti’s Vetevendosje Set to Win Kosovo Election on Low Turnout

From Street Names to Textbooks, WWII in Kosovo is Not What it Once Was

North Macedonia

Interview

North Macedonia is Splurging on Independence Parties – But Who’s Paying?

Four Scenarios for Democracy in the Western Balkans: From Hope to Disenchantment

Wakeup Moment? North Macedonia Femicides Spur Call for Action, Not Words

Western Balkans Stability Monitor: Elections in the Air

Moldova

Review

Week in Review: Turning Points and Endless Loops

Shadowy Exchange: Moldova’s First Spy Swap Rewrites Region’s Security Playbook

Oligarch’s Conviction Shows Moldova’s Justice Reform is Delivering

Moldovan Oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc Jailed for ‘Theft of the Century’

Montenegro

News

Serbia President Attends Summit in Montenegro Despite Intelligence Warnings

Montenegro Bars Entry to 87 Serbian Nationals Ahead of Summit

The Saint: Island Resort’s Reopening a Boon for Montenegrin Tourism

EU Sanctions Slash Russian Investments in Montenegro

Romania

News

Romania’s President Taps Independent Candidate to Form Govt

Romania’s President Struggles to Name PM as Political Deadlock Persists

Hungary Shows Limits to Central-Southeast Europe’s ‘Nuclear Renaissance’

Romania Mulls Response After Russian Drone Injures Two

Serbia

News

Serbian Police Unit Members Arrested Over Alleged Cover-Up of Restaurant Shooting

Serbian Prosecution Drops Claim Accusing Ex-Police Chief of Assisting Killer

Takeover of Critical Media Outlet in Serbia Raises Fears For its Future

Preparing for War: How WWII Serb Suffering Was Weaponised Decades Later