For the Western Balkans, the EU’s mixed messaging continues
Bosnia and Herzegovina this week became a formal EU candidate, while Kosovo filed an application for EU membership. Neither country will be an EU member anytime soon.European Union ministers on Tuesday agreed to endorse a recommendation from the bloc’s executive arm, the European Commission, to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina candidate member status, the third country…
Corruption is no longer a tenable dividing line between East and West
The arrest of MEP Eva Kaili over Qatar-linked bribery charges goes to show that kickbacks and shakedowns are just as brazenly entertained in Brussels as elsewhere in Europe.Ever since the EU enlargement in mid-2004, a palpable ‘them and us’ culture has reigned supreme between the bloc’s founders and its newcomers to the East. Needless to…
In the Western Balkans, the past again threatens the future
The detention last week of three Bulgarians at the border with North Macedonia is the latest in a series of tit-for-tat events between the two countries that threatens to once again derail Skopje’s EU bid. Disputes with its neighbours over the interpretation of history have plagued North Macedonia’s EU accession ambitions for years, and even after a…
Much to celebrate: Kosovo at 15
As Kosovo celebrates 15 years of independence, a deal that could finally normalise relations with neighbour Serbia is closer than ever. Serb nationalists will do all they can to ensure it fails, however. It’s the most pro-European Union and pro-NATO country in Europe, and yet it is a member of neither. Indeed, its citizens are the…
How being a European Capital of Culture reshaped Bulgaria’s most ancient city
While 2019 saw a massive boost for artists, many long-term challenges remain for Plovdiv’s ambition to become a major European cultural hub. Visit Bulgaria and you will inevitably hear about Plovdiv – a major city in the centre of southern Bulgaria and the country’s cultural heartland. Very few cities in Southeastern Europe have retained their importance throughout…
The last word: Georgia on my mind
The government may have pulled a controversial ‘foreign agents’ law but Georgia’s decline continues. For those of us who adore the country, this is a deep shame.In this week’s column I originally planned to write about the Georgia Investment Forum held earlier this week in London, focusing on the investment opportunities the country offers. But this…
Is new agreement a turning point for Serbia and Kosovo?
The EU and the US must be clear about the benefits that both Serbia and Kosovo can derive if they fulfill their obligations The recent verbal agreement reached between Serbia and Kosovo in Ohrid, North Macedonia obviously represents a positive development in the process of normalisation between the two countries. There are however many obstacles…
EU finally opens its doors to the people of Kosovo
A long standing wrong is righted as the EU agrees to allow Kosovo’s citizens visa-free access to the bloc.Finally. On April 18, the European Parliament voted to remove visa requirements for citizens of Kosovo wishing to travel to the European Union. When the EU’s electronic European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) comes into operation,…
EU relying on ‘ineffective’ Greek body to probe pushback video
The European Commission says it is up to Greece to investigate illegal pushbacks of refugees after the New York Times published video evidence of Greek authorities abandoning people at sea, including a six-month old baby.Such an investigation would involve the Greek national transparency authority — an institution that has been described as politically compromised and…
Turkish voters must not forget Erdogan’s evil deeds
Turkey has the potential of becoming a great regional and global power, but first Erdogan must get out of the way.As the Turkish people go to the polling stations on May 14 to cast their vote for parliament and the president, millions are still haunted by what President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has done to their…