Greek island pioneering ‘territorial diplomacy’ on energy
A small Greek island of less than 800 inhabitants in the Aegean Sea has managed to become the first energy self-sufficient Greek island using renewable energy sources, and a paradigm for migrant integration — while in the rest of the country, islands depend on burning heavy oil, and the coast guard lets refugees drown at…
Looming EU-Egypt deal prompts fears for future Gaza refugees
As the cycle of violence in Gaza reaches its 17th day, with a death toll of over 5,000 Palestinian and 1,400 Israeli lives, the European Union appears to be accelerating its efforts to finalise a deal with Egypt.European concerns on the migratory implications of the Israeli-Hamas war seem to have started when Greek migration minister…
Kurti-EU tensions are most damaging to Kosovo’s national interests
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti is still wallowing in his obsession with Serbia and seems to never understand that Kosovo’s independence, security, and well-being do not depend on what Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić says or does but only on the commitments of the EU and the US to safeguard Kosovo’s security and independence.It is baffling…
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