Does Serb support for Russia spell trouble for Bosnia?
Many Serbs have not been shy to show their support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, both in Serbia itself and in the Republika Srpska region of neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. Should Sarajevo be worried?For the second time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, there was a loud show of support for Russia…
Frontex silent on report to withdraw from Greece
The EU’s border agency Frontex will not say if discussions are taking place for it to pull out of Greece.But a report on Monday (26 June) by French newspaper Le Monde said the agency’s fundamental rights officer, Jonas Grimheden, has again proposed the option. Published by: euobserver.com
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spurs new EU crackdown on ‘golden passport’ schemes
Bulgaria last week voted to end its so-called ‘golden passport’ scheme. The EU is now calling on other member states to follow its lead.The European Commission is again urging all EU member states to immediately repeal any existing investor citizenship schemes, often dubbed “golden passport” schemes. The Commission has for several years been raising serious…
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a test for the EU’s economic resilience
Inflation will be high across all of the European Union in 2022, with the countries of emerging Europe particularly vulnerable to rising prices.The European Commission has been forced to revise the EU’s growth outlook downwards, and the forecast for inflation upwards following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The outlook for the EU’s economy before the outbreak of…
Europe’s tolerance of refugee abuse ‘alarming’
Acceptance of refugee abuse in Europe is alarming, a top human rights defender has said after a Greek sinking tragedy.Dunja Mijatović, the commissioner for human rights at the Strasbourg-based watchdog, the Council of Europe, said she was “struck by the alarming level of tolerance to serious human-rights violations against refugees, asylum seekers and migrants that…
EU’s Just Transition Fund: Is it really helping workers and SMEs?
The European Union’s Just Transition Fund (JTF), which allocates €17.5 billion for carbon-intensive regions to implement a fair and sustainable ecological transition by 2027, faces issues of delayed disbursement and accessibility for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This creates uncertainties about the future of workers and companies in these regions.Our international team investigated the implementation…
As prices rise, economic fallout of Russia’s Ukraine invasion is a test for European unity
Two major new reports suggest that the economic impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine, particularly increases in the cost of living, are beginning to have an effect on public opinion across the European Union. The slowdown in growth brought about by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is particularly pronounced in countries in close proximity to Ukraine,…
Orbán still vetoing EU’s Russia sanctions over bank insult
Greece and Hungary are still blocking EU sanctions on Russia, as talks drag out into their third month.They want Ukraine to first delete Greek shipping firms and a Hungarian bank from Kyiv’s list of “international war sponsors”. Published by: euobserver.com
North Macedonia – and with it Albania – might finally have overcome key obstacle on EU path
A deal between Bulgaria and North Macedonia should see Sofia drop its veto preventing Skopje – and Tirana, which has been caught in the crossfire – starting EU accession talks. Formal membership negotiations could begin as early as this week.MPs in North Macedonia voted on July 16 to back a controversial French-brokered deal that aims…
Georgia, once a beacon of democracy, is fading away
In May 2005, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, then-US President George W. Bush hailed the country as a “beacon of democracy”. Since then, however, Georgia’s trajectory has changed.The Greek statesman Alcibiades cut off his dog’s tail so the public would talk about the animal’s deformity, rather than his incompetence. It is the oldest…