North Macedonia

Bulgaria

Albania

Politics

A summit of EU and Balkan leaders failed to reach a consensus over North Macedonia and Albania's EU membership bids after a June 22 no-confidence vote ousted Bulgaria's Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, AP reported June 23.

Bulgaria: Government Loses No-Confidence Vote, Stalling EU Enlargement to Western Balkans

Eurasia

Belarus

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Russia

Agriculture

COVID-19

Supply Chains

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Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EAEU) has banned certain food exports from the trade union from April 10 until June 30 to prevent shortages during the COVID-19 crisis, Kommersant reported March 31.

Eurasia: Eurasian Economic Union Bans Food Exports Amid COVID-19 Concerns

Greece

Italy

Azerbaijan

Turkey

Energy

The Politics of Pipelines

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

Construction on the Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline (TANAP) -- the last segment of the Southern Gas Corridor -- was completed July 1, with deliveries of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe ready to begin, Azernews reported. 

Azerbaijan, Turkey: Trans-Anatolian Pipeline Ready To Begin Operations

France

Germany

Serbia

Romania

Slovakia

Armenia

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Israel

Egypt

Kiev is hosting the 50th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) on Nov. 28-30, Interfax-Ukraine reported. 

Ukraine: Kiev Hosts Parliamentary Assembly Of Black Sea Economic Cooperation

China

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Hungary

EU: Regional Blocs

The Fate of the Eurozone

China in Transition

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov announced that Sofia will host the 2018 16+1 summit of Central and Eastern European countries and China, Euractiv reported Nov. 28.

Hungary: Bulgaria Announces It Will Host 2018 '16+1' Trade Summit

United States

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Albania on Feb. 14 to encourage its leaders to complete anti-corruption measures, Reuters reported.

Albania: U.S. Secretary Of State Visits To Promote Anti-Corruption

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Eurozone

After two weeks of negotiations, representatives of nearly 200 countries have approved the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the extent of climate change in the coming decades, The Telegraph reported Dec. 12.

France: Delegates Approve Paris Climate Change Deal

Economics and Finance

Liechtenstein

Norway

Iceland

Russia’s customs service said Aug. 12 that there is no alternative to destroying all sanctioned goods brought into the country, Tass reported. 

 Russia: No Alternative To Destroying Sanctioned Goods, Customs Service Says

Columns

On Security

Europe

Kosovo

Demonstrators in Belgrade, Serbia, hold up Serbian flags and a photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 24, 2022, during a rally in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

Military & Security

In the second part of this series, we explore China and Russia's interests in the Balkans and what their activities may mean for the region's long-term stability.

The Risk of Another Balkans War, Part 2: Russian and Chinese Influence

NATO soldiers patrol a roadblock set up by ethnic Serbs near Zubin Potok, a town in northern Kosovo, on Aug. 1, 2022. 

Social Issues

Despite ethnically-tinged tensions between Kosovo and Serbia that most recently made the news, there appear to be numerous restraints on a potential return to widespread regional conflict. 

The Risk of Another Balkans War, Part 1: Placing Recent Flashpoints in Context

Assessments

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti (right) and his Albanian counterpart, Edi Rama, hold a joint press conference in Pristina on Sept. 27, 2021. 

Security

European Disintegration

While the formation of a “Greater Albania” is unlikely, Kosovo will continue hinting at the idea during its disputes with Serbia, which could renew unrest in the region.

The Threat of Albania-Kosovo Unification Risks Destabilizing the Balkans

An external view of the building of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium. 

The New Silk Road

Divided EU Foreign Policies

As COVID-19 forces the EU to remain focused on recovering (and not enlarging) its economy, candidate countries such as Serbia risk veering away from the reforms they had been pursuing to earn their place in the bloc.

What the Fading Promise of EU Accession Means for the Balkans

Many of Eastern Europe's governments are lurching away from democracy, provoking pushback from civil society.

As governments in EU members like the Czech Republic, Romania and others run roughshod over the bloc's values, civil society groups are fighting to uphold the rule of law.

Eastern Europe Witnesses a Quiet Revolution

Snapshots

Significant proportions of citizens in the Balkans region of Europe think more needs to be done to make their governments more transparent and less corrupt. 

Demonstrators in Albania, Serbia, Montenegro and Romania have recently taken to the streets to decry the opaque nature of their governments and media.

Balkans: Disparate Protests Share a Common Demand for More Openness

Global Perspectives

Switzerland

Contributor Perspectives

Swiss player Xherdan Shaqiri's celebration after scoring a World Cup goal against Serbia included flashing the Albanian eagle. Shaqiri was born in Kosovo, whose ethnic Albanian population fought a destructive conflict with Serbia in the 1990s.

Switzerland's Albanian contingent and Serbia's manager battled with gestures and words, showing how close to the surface the wounds of Kosovo remain.

The Balkan Wars Revisited at the World Cup

SITUATION REPORTS

Bulgaria: Government Loses No-Confidence Vote, Stalling EU Enlargement to Western Balkans

Eurasia: Eurasian Economic Union Bans Food Exports Amid COVID-19 Concerns

Azerbaijan, Turkey: Trans-Anatolian Pipeline Ready To Begin Operations

Ukraine: Kiev Hosts Parliamentary Assembly Of Black Sea Economic Cooperation

Hungary: Bulgaria Announces It Will Host 2018 '16+1' Trade Summit

Albania: U.S. Secretary Of State Visits To Promote Anti-Corruption

France: Delegates Approve Paris Climate Change Deal

Russia: No Alternative To Destroying Sanctioned Goods, Customs Service Says

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