Kosovo
Merkel says EU should “keep its word” in relations with accession candidates
After EU accession progress was blocked by Bulgaria, Albanian PM Edi Rama tells German chancellor Western Balkans are “held hostage” by nationalism in EU countries.
HICP inflation in Kosovo hits 4.7% in August
High inflation over the past 12 months has reversed the effects of several months of deflation in the first part of 2020.
Construction prices in Kosovo surge by 12.1% y/y in Q2
Price of materials surged by 8.6% q/q, accounting for nearly 70% of the total construction costs.
Western Balkans coal power plants defy emissions rules, causing thousands of deaths
Air pollution from coal-fired power plants in the Western Balkans caused the deaths of around 19,000 people in three years, says a new study.
Slovenian president urges EU to make enlargement a priority
Borut Pahor warns failure to launch accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia will lead to rising nationalism and influence from ‘third countries’ in the region.
Restrictions tightened in Southeast Europe as COVID-19 cases rise sharply
New wave of the pandemic spreads in region where vaccination rates are low in many countries.
Western Balkans countries quick to accept Afghan refugees as migration debate reopens in Brussels
Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia will temporarily host Afghan refugees waiting for US visas.
THE VIEW FROM MITTELEUROPA: Reflections on Metternich and the Austrian Balkans
The region that comprised the former Yugoslavia has strongly influenced Austria and continues to do so.
Firefighters from Southeast Europe help North Macedonia to extinguish wildfires
North Macedonia is fighting raging wildfires caused by the extremely hot weather, which have been disastrous in the eastern part of the country.
BALKAN BLOG: Southeast Europe heatwave a sign of climate change to come
Southeast Europe is suffering under a heatwave that has sent temperatures soaring to 40°C or higher.
Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia to launch borderless travel zone by 2023
Three countries founded the ‘mini-Schengen’ initiative to improve economic and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans after EU enlargement to the region stalled.
Kosovo expects GDP growth to exceed projected 7.9% this year
Economy minister says growth could be as high as 10% this year, but analysts warn this can only be achieved with major investments.
Surge in arrivals from Kosovo pushes Albanian tourist arrivals to pre-pandemic level
Arrivals from neighbouring countries shot up when Albania eased restrictions.
Looming new coronavirus wave prompts vaccination push in Southeast Europe
With the delta variant starting to spread in Southeast Europe, officials are warning of a new wave of the pandemic that may put pressure on hospitals as early as August or September.
Leaders of Serbia and Kosovo blame each other for failed talks in Brussels
No progress on normalisation of relations at second meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
Kosovo’s annual inflation speeds up to 2.4% y/y in June
Kosovo's inflation has been speeding up gradually every month since it turned positive in February.
Western Balkans scrap roaming tariffs
Politicians say lifting of roaming tariffs is just the first step as cooperation efforts deliver financial benefits for citizens of the EU-aspiring region.
YUGOSLAVIA 30 YEARS ON: Scaling back the state
The coronacrisis saw the role of the state increase, but post-crisis efforts towards privatisation and a stepping back of the state from the economy are expected.
Under half of emerging Europe economies to achieve full recovery in 2021
EBRD says recovery from the coronacrisis is progressing faster than expected, but many emerging Europe economies won’t return to 2019 levels of GDP until 2022.
YUGOSLAVIA 30 YEARS ON: ‘Yugo-nostalgia’ fading but not gone
Since Yugoslavia started to disintegrate, a whole generation has grown up but there are still some in the region who look back nostalgically.
