Pressure on Sofia to lift its veto and allow North Macedonia to start EU accession talks has increased since Russia's invasion of Ukraine raised fears of destabilisation in the Western Balkans.
EU high commissioner warns decision of most candidate countries to align to the EU sanction policy exposes them to threats from Russia.
The EBRD has cut its 2022 emerging Europe growth forecasts again, reflecting a sharp downgrade for Ukraine and the regional fallout from the war and sanctions.
Across the region, the average publicly guaranteed debt to GDP ratio fell from 60.8% of GDP in 2020 to 56.5% in 2021, a World Bank report shows.
The war in Ukraine sends shockwaves across the region and the World Bank warns of "daunting" downside risks to the current outlook.
Southeast Europe is split over the issues of sanctions on Russia and military aid to Ukraine, with some states firmly in the western camp, some staying neutral and others internally torn.
Greece is set to become a major gas supplier for the Balkans region, as investments aimed at achieving independence from Russian gas accelerate across Europe.
North Macedonia is struggling with record-high food prices and shortages of cooking oil, wheat and flour.
Growth decelerated across all three main industrial sectors.
Russian GDP forecast to fall by 9-15% this year, while Ukraine's economy could collapse by 38-45%.
North Macedonia’s opposition and Jewish community call on EU to condemn Bulgaria for naming cultural centre after Nazi collaborator amid efforts by the two countries to resolve differences and unblock Skopje’s EU path.
Weaponry arrived at a time of concern over the stability of the Western Balkans following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Consumer price inflation accelerated to 8.8% y/y in March, with prices pushed up by rising food and energy import costs.
The Hungarian election has dealt a big blow to the once confident hope that broad opposition pre-electoral coalitions are the best way to remove entrenched authoritarian populists from power.
North Macedonia's former PM Nikola Gruevski among seven current and former officials blacklisted over activities that "threaten the stability of the region".
EU officials fear the slow enlargement process is leading to democratic backsliding in the Western Balkans, and creating opportunities for Russia and China to increase their influence.
Mass emigration contributed to almost 10% decline in North Macedonia's population since previous census in 2002.
Ukraine's economy forecast to contract by 20% and projections worsen across emerging Europe — except for Eurasian oil and gas producers Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
Kiril Petkov says North Macedonia “has a place in the European family”, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warns further enlargement delays lay Western Balkans open to influence from third parties.
There is deep disappointment over the rate of progress of various Roma inclusion policies of the European Union during the last few decades.