It’s time for all EU members to recognise Kosovo
More than 15 years after its declaration of independence, five EU countries stubbornly refuse to recognise Kosovo. This harms both the EU’s foreign policy in the Balkans and Kosovo’s prospects for statehood.Kosovo was the last country to emerge out of the embers of Yugoslavia. An overwhelming majority of the country’s Assembly (109 out of 120…
North Macedonia, Albania, and the long march to the EU
The withdrawal of an ethnic Albanian party from the government of North Macedonia might finally allow the country to recognise a Bulgarian minority in its constitution, allowing Skopje to move past its dispute with Sofia and clearing the path for both it and Albania to begin the long march towards EU membership. North Macedonia’s road to…
Stay away: UK’s demonisation of Albanians continues
Albania and the United Kingdom are NATO allies, but relations have grown tense over the last year as the number of Albanians seeking asylum in Britain surged. While Albania works to increase its image on social media to boost tourism, later in June the United Kingdom Home Office will launch an ad campaign on social media…
The US and EU need a new roadmap to solve the Serbia-Kosovo conflict
It is naïve to assume that given the current geopolitical conditions in the Balkans and the psychological dimension of the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia that a resolution to their conflict can be found unless the EU and the US develop a clearly articulated cost-and-benefit strategy cushioned by a realistic process of reconciliation.The recent demonstrations…
What Erdoğan’s re-election means for NATO and Ukraine
Longtime Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last month won re-election and yet another term in office. This will bring new headaches for Brussels, but Turkey will remain an indispensable part of NATO and a key player in Ukraine and beyond. On May 28, incumbent Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan beat opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in the…
An alternative to Russia and China: Turkey’s role in the South Caucasus and Central Asia
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s re-election as president of Turkey last month means the country is set to continue its engagement with the South Caucasus and Central Asia, where Turkey is increasingly viewed as a regional power able to rival and counter Russian, Iranian, and Chinese influence. When communism fell and the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, Turkey…
EU backs Greek gas expansion in protected marine zone
The European Commission has recently approved €106m in Greek state-aid for completing a regasification vessel — in the middle of a protected marine area.According to the press statement, the project is “necessary and appropriate,” but the commission does not mention the protected habitat where the floating gas unit will be placed. Published by: euobserver.com
Are the presidential elections in Poland a sign that a new EU is emerging?
The European Union has witnessed a dramatic political shift in the last few years. The 2013 elections in Italy were won by an anti-establishment party formed by a comedian. In Spain, a new party, formed by anti-establishment professors is leading in the polls. In France, a nationalistic and anti-establishment party enjoys massive popularity. In Greece,…
Two And a Half Years Since Croatia Joined the EU, And What Now?
Last week the Croatian Permanent Representation in Brussels organised the first gathering of Croat nationals working in the EU institutions. The first networking event, regularly organised by other perm reps as well, came 2.5 years after the country’s membership in the Union. It was a beautiful sight to see — a couple of hundred young,…
World Bank: Brexit Hides Greater Challenges to the European Union and the CEE Region
Today, people across the United Kingdom are casting a vote that could change their country, but which could also transform European politics. The Remain camp claims that leaving the EU will be detrimental to Britain’s economy. Their opponents say the detriment to the UK of staying in the EU far outweighs the risks of leaving.…