Western Balkans

Afew weeks ago, France’s, Denmark’s and Netherland’s decision to block the negotiation process for North Macedonia’s and Albania’s candidacy to the EU, provoked an outcry among Western Balkans countries b... Be More Curious...

Report | Taking stock on Kosovo’s rule of law: good governance in a newborn state?

Emina Bekto

08/12/2019

On 12 November 2019, Vocal Europe in cooperation with Portugal’s Permanent Representation to the EU organised the panel discussion “Taking Stock on Kosovo’s Rule of Law: Good Governance in a New-born State?” This event aimed at evaluating where Kosov... Be More Curious...

POLICY PAPER | EU Accession Talks for Albania and North Macedonia: Mirage or Reality?

Sasa Kulenovic

14/10/2019

Albania and North Macedonia’s bid to join the European Union has gathered momentum in recent years as the two countries made progress on their quest to open accession negotiations. While the European Comm... Be More Curious...

Western Balkans and the Return to Arms: Can the EU stabilize the region?

Sasa Kulenovic

03/10/2019

The political climate in the Western Balkans has become more volatile in recent years, characterized by an increase in bilateral tensions and a sharpening nationalist and at times warmongering rhetoric. A... Be More Curious...

COMMENTARY | Serbia: towards the EU or searching for another direction?

Dimitra Koutouzi

29/09/2019

Serbia and Russia have been allies for many years and Russia is constantly concerned about the relations between Serbia and the European Union (EU). Russia’s interest has always been to keep the Western Balkans away from the influence of the EU, more imp... Be More Curious...

REPORT | A Message for Europe from the President of North Macedonia

Carey Bennington

24/06/2019

LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE SPEECH President of North Macedonia, Mr Stevo Pendarovski, recently spoke at an event moderated by Shada Islam and hosted by Friends of Europe in Brussels, Belgium. H... Be More Curious...

The Balkans Ahead of the New European Parliament: A Change of Paradigm?

Zoran Cicak

24/05/2019

However, there remains a paradox which is indeed endemic in Western Balkans. It is more or less overt support extended by the European Union to policies and leaders which are both inherently anti-European... Be More Curious...

COMMENTARY | How North Macedonia’s rebranded name affects its international position?

Aleksandra Toska

16/05/2019

The collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991 led to the birth of several nation states, with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (henceforth FYROM) being one of the initial offspring. Compared to the rest of the ex-Yugoslav countries, the self-proclaimed R... Be More Curious...

North Macedonia’s Unusual Waltz with Turkey – Will it frustrate the EU and NATO?

Pavel Vanev

30/04/2019

The saga, surrounding the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), finally came to an end this February (2019) with a brand new North Macedonia label stamped over the old contested FYROM... Be More Curious...

Kosovo and the EU: The Need for Visa Liberalisation is Growing

Alejandra Finotto

09/03/2019

Just last year, Kosovo was celebrating its 10th anniversary of Independence, which it declared on February 2008 unilaterally from Serbia. Despite having a past marked by conflict, especially given the 1... Be More Curious...

Vocal Cast with Mimoza Kusari-Lila

Ebubekir ISIK

31/12/2018

Podcasts, Western Balkans

As part of our Vocal Cast series that are supported by Science 14, we have talked to Mimoza Kusari-Lila, former deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and member of Kosovar Parliament where she leads the political party, named Alternativa. Among many relevant... Be More Curious...

POLICY PAPER — The EU and the Western Balkans 6: a difficult wedding

07/11/2018

The Balkan Region, and particularly the Western part closer to the EU, consisting of the so-called WB6 – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia – has always had a fund... Be More Curious...

Macedonia referendum result – everyone rejoices, none is satisfied

05/10/2018

Last Sunday, on the 30thof September, Skopje held the most important vote in its recent national history, after the independence which took place in 1991. This time the aim was to settle the three decad... Be More Curious...

Macedonia referendum: ”the once-in-a-life occasion”

24/09/2018

After the achievement of the historical “name-deal” between Macedonia’s and Greece’s governments, which would allegedly will bring an end to their 27 years long dispute, on 30 September Macedonians will have the opportunity to decide for their country... Be More Curious...

Land-swap deal: ideal solution or Pandora’s box?

18/09/2018

Despite the declared intentions of both the Kosovar and Serbian governments to achieve the land-swap deal, which would allegedly contribute to the detente of their bilateral relations and more generally... Be More Curious...

Generational decision: Will Macedonia’s citizens accept Agreement with Greece?

17/09/2018

This piece was published in cooperation with European Western Balkans. On 30 September 2018, citizens of Macedonia will have an opportunity to strongly influence their country’s future. By voting for or ... Be More Curious...

Will the Name Deal between Greece and Macedonia be Preserved?

Vicky Pathiakaki

04/08/2018

There are times when historical time thickens, and the importance of specific moments not only concern the narrow boundaries of a country but also spread out in space and time. Such a historic time was the decision of the renaming of Macedonia to North... Be More Curious...

UAE in the Balkans: Meeting point between ‘sultanism’ and authoritarianism?

16/07/2018

This piece was written by Tena Prelec, Research Associate at the London School of Economics’ European Policy Institute, who was a speaker at the event the event “Beyond Berlin: What Does the Next Decade Hold fo... Be More Curious...

Julie Ward on the role of Youth and Civil Society in the Western Balkans

22/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe's research series on the Western Balkans, Julie Ward, Member of the European Parliament Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo shares her take on the role that can be played b... Be More Curious...

Eduard KUKAN on Serbia and the EU Accession Process

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Eduard Kukan, Chair of European Parliament Delegation to Serbia, shares his take on the recent state of the relations between Serbia and the EU at the panel organized by Vocal Europe.... Be More Curious...

Alojz PETERLE on the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Alojz Peterle, Chair of European Parliament Delegation to Macedonia (FYROM), shares his take on the recent state of the relations between Macedo... Be More Curious...

Andre De MUNTER on the countries in the Western Balkans

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Andre De Munter, Policy Analyst at the European Parliament, shares his take on the recent state of the relations between he countries in the Wes... Be More Curious...

Corina STRATULAT on the countries in the Western Balkans

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Corina STRATULAT, Senior Policy Analyst at European Policy Centre, shares her take on the recent state of the relations between he countries in the Western Balkans and the EU at a panel organize... Be More Curious...

Isabella DE MONTE on Montenegro and the EU Accession Process

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Isabella DE MONTE, Substitute of European Parliament Delegation to Montenegro, shares her take on the recent state of the relations between Mont... Be More Curious...

Milena HARITO on the Republic of Albania and the EU

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Milena Harito, Former Minister of State for Innovation and Public Administration of Albania, shares her take on the recent state of the relation... Be More Curious...

H.E. Mrs. Suela JANINA on the Republic of Albania and the EU

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans,H.E. Mrs. Suela JANINA, Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the EU, shares her take on the recent state of the relations between Albania and the EU at a panel organized by Vocal Europe.... Be More Curious...

Thomas WAITZ on Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Thomas WAITZ, Vice Chair of European Parliament Delegation to Kosovo, and BiH, shares his take on the recent state of the relations between the ... Be More Curious...

Toby VOGEL on the Western Balkans and the EU Accession Process

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Toby VOGEL, Policy Analyst at Center for European Policy Studies, shares his take on the recent state of the relations between the countries in ... Be More Curious...

Clive Rumbold (EEAS) on the Western Balkans and the EU

21/06/2018

As part of Vocal Europe’s research series on the Western Balkans, Clive Rumbold, Deputy Head of Western Balkans Division at European External Action Service, shares his take on the recent state of the relations between the countries in the Western Balkans and ... Be More Curious...

Europe is facing ‘Erdoğan crisis’ in the Western Balkans too

Valeria Mingardi

05/06/2018

Hasan Hüseyin Demir moved from Hassa, a small city in the Turkish province of Hatay to Kosovo in 2012 to work first as an educator and then as a school principal. His life was following the normal path of a... Be More Curious...

Monday Talk with European Parliament’s Foreign Policy Chief on Western Balkans

12/03/2018

Western Balkans has never been a simple place. Although, there is a continues determination by the European Union to see the countries in the Western Balkans as part of the European Union in the near future, ye... Be More Curious...

Digital — a game changer in the Western Balkans

Milena Harito

22/02/2018

Business, Western Balkans

The 6 February 2018 in the new the European Commission strategy for the Western Balkans, for the first time since the first steps of this region towards EU, the digital agenda became central. Launching a digital agenda is one of the six flagship initiative... Be More Curious...

The New Politics for Macedonia’s largest opposition party

Anastasia Tsougka

15/01/2018

The two-day conference (22 - 23/12) of the main opposition party of F.Y.R.O. Macedonia concluded its work with the election of a new party leader, marking the departure of Nikola Gruevski from its leadershi... Be More Curious...

”Passing through Bulgaria, Iran is planting Hezbollah members in Balkans”

Ruslan Trad

19/12/2017

Inside Europe, Western Balkans

“I am not alone here. I know of several more Lebanese and Syrian-related Hezbollah members who have lived in Bulgaria for years.” Ali, a Hezbollah sympathizer, living in Bulgaria and married to a Bulgari... Be More Curious...

Erdogan bullies Europe and America through Balkans

01/11/2017

Beyond Europe, Western Balkans

Ithas become difficult to keep track of Turkey recently. In less than a month, four biggest mayors from Erdogan’s party were forced to resign. If we count the mayors that he appointed trustees upon, more than 33 million Turks are not being led by the mayors th... Be More Curious...

Monday Talk with Vesna Marjanovic on Massive Protests in Serbia

24/04/2017

Monday Talks, Western Balkans

Vocal Europe: What were the main reasons behind the ongoing massive protests where thousands hit on the streets against government in Serbia? Vesna Marjanovic is a member of Serbia's national parliament. ... Be More Curious...

Strategic Options for Europe, the Occasional Power

29/12/2015

The Opinion, Western Balkans

by JAN TECHAU There is a lot of foreign policy going on in Europe, but not all of it is EU foreign policy. EU foreign policy is external action taken by all 28 member states together, as a shared responsibilit... Be More Curious...

NATO’s Absence in the Refugee Crisis