Former High Representative expresses concern after election of Milorad Dodik to Bosnian presidency
The former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Miroslav Lajčák has expressed concern at the election on October 7 of Bosnian Serb nationalist Milorad Dodik to the three-member rotating presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr Lajčák, currently the president of the United Nations General Assembly, stated that he is worried by the outcome of the…
Macedonia: A new front in Russia-West tensions
On September 30, 94 per cent of voters in Macedonia’s referendum cast their ballots in favor of adopting a new name for the country and working toward European Union and NATO membership. The convincing result, however, was soured by a boycott. With just under 37 per cent turnout, the results were legally invalid – a…
Voter confidence in electoral process highest in Estonia
A new Eurobarometer survey ahead of next May’s European elections has revealed that a majority of EU citizens are worried that disinformation campaigns, data breaches and cyberattacks will interfere with electoral processes. Interestingly, both some of the highest and – thanks to Estonia – lowest percentages of those concerned about electoral manipulation are found in…
Five takeaways from Nikola Gruevski’s asylum in Hungary
Nikola Gruevski’s request for asylum on November 13 came as a suprise, if not a shock, to many in the Hungarian public. The former Macedonian PM, who was sentenced to prison on corruption charges in his home country, fled to Hungary with direct assistance from the Hungarian authorities after claiming that he had received threats…
A new military build-up in the Balkans
Around the world, countries are spending more on their militaries, a trend that is already evident in the Western Balkans. In 2018, global military expenditure rose to 1.7 trillion US dollars, its highest level since the end of the Cold War. At a NATO summit in July, United States President Donald Trump insisted that the alliance should double…
North Macedonia has a name. What’s next?
Now that one of the silliest international disputes of recent decades has been resolved, Greece will no longer veto Macedonia’s (now officially North Macedonia) membership of international organisations. But while NATO membership could happen relatively quickly, nobody should expect EU membership anytime soon.NATO, when it wants to, can act very quickly. Less than a week…
Greece set to ask for EU aid over floods amid mounting anger
Greece is set to request EU aid following deadly floods from Storm Daniel amid mounting criticism against the centre-right government in Athens.But as of Monday (11 September), a European commission spokesperson told reporters in Brussels that such a request has yet to materialise. Published by: euobserver.com
The Balkans: The feast feeding Russia and Turkey’s hunger
The political tension between Kosovo and Serbia is creating a perfect environment wherein Turkey and Russia can lure the two countries into their respective spheres of influence. High-ranking US and EU envoys are trying to resolve the long-standing dispute, urging Serbia and Kosovo to normalise relations when in fact they are becoming increasingly more tense.…
Connecting emerging Europe
In many places, getting around emerging Europe remains as difficult today as it did 30 years ago. In January, in a bid to boost connectivity and economic growth in emerging Europe’s Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine), the European Commission and the World Bank co-authored a Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)…
Stevo Pendarovski elected president of North Macedonia
Stevo Pendarovski (above, left), the candidate backed by North Macedonia’s ruling Social Democratic party, has won the country’s presidential election, taking just under 52 per cent of the vote. Opposition candidate Gordana Siljanovska Davkova won 44.5 per cent, with more than three per cent of ballots declared null and void.The two politicians had each received about…