North Macedonia
Western Balkan countries become emerging players in Europe’s defence efforts
The Western Balkans could play an increasingly important role in strengthening Europe’s security architecture, says a new report from the Carnegie Europe think-tank.
North Macedonia's Skopje tackles mounting waste and rodent crisis
Locals say the problems in Skopje's Centar municipality worsened during the local election period when political campaigning took precedence over maintenance.
Emerging Europe’s growth holds up but risks loom, says wiiw
Fiscal fragility, weakening industrial demand from Germany, and the prolonged fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine threaten to undermine growth momentum in parts of the region.
UK sanctions Balkan gangs and financiers over people-smuggling networks
Measures target criminal networks involved in producing fake travel documents and an illicit financial group accused of supplying small boat engines to smugglers, Foreign Office says.
EU mulls partial membership plan to ease enlargement and bypass veto risks
Move is aimed at moving forward with enlargement and overcoming resistance from EU members such as Hungary, but reaching consensus to be a challenge.
North Macedonia’s right-wing VMRO-DPMNE heading for sweeping victory in local elections
Strong performance by North Macedonia's ruling party further consolidates Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s dominance on the national political stage.
Thousands rally in Tirana demanding justice for former KLA leaders on trial in The Hague
Albanian PM Edi Rama called the protest, urging all Albanians to unite behind what he described as a “national cause” — defending the honour and legacy of Kosovo’s wartime leaders.
The EU needs to change to stay geopolitically relevant
Leading EU figures are pushing for the unanimity rule used to make important decisions to be dropped to enable faster enlargement — one of the bloc’s main tools for geopolitical influence.
North Macedonia heads to local elections amid promises, unfinished projects and city challenges
North Macedonia is in the midst of a pre-election period characterised by a flurry of promises from politicians, ranging from infrastructure investments to tackling environmental issues, as the country prepares for its upcoming local elections.
World Bank projects growth upturn for Western Balkans from 2027
But region needs to focus on job creation and reforms to catch up with average EU living standards within the next 40 years.
Austria and Slovenia advocate qualified majority voting to unblock EU enlargement
Dropping unanimity requirement could accelerate the accession process for Ukraine, Moldova and potentially Western Balkans, but faces opposition from within the EU.
Rifts on show at EU-Western Balkan summit in Albania
Differences apparent over EU reform as well as friction between Serbia and Kosovo.
Mobile apps and cards drive surge in electronic payments in North Macedonia
Electronic payments in North Macedonia continued their strong upward trend, as citizens increasingly opted for mobile applications and payment cards instead of over-the-counter transactions, the National Bank said.
EU’s influence declines in its neighbourhood as China and Russia gain ground
Chinese presence growing in Western Balkans, while Russia makes gains in Turkey, shows new index developed by wiiw, Bertelsmann Stiftung and ECIPE.
EBRD says geopolitics, tariffs and China competition weigh on Emerging Europe growth
Development bank downgrades 2025 forecasts for Central and Eastern Europe citing weak external demand, rising debt and the impact of US tariffs.
North Macedonia busts major illegal logging ring causing €104mn forest damage
Police say group devastated 6,000 hectares of forest after corrupt officials accepted bribes to enable the circulation of timber.
Skopje residents rise up against landfill fires and toxic pollution
Combination of heat and toxic smoke from multiple fires has left residents trapped inside their homes.
North Macedonia’s GDP growth accelerates to 3.4% in 2Q25
Data point to a steady recovery of the Macedonian economy, supported by construction and services, but tempered by a widening trade gap.
North Macedonia rocked by new wiretapping scandal
Hristijan Mickoski says North Macedonia country is facing a new scandal involving illegal wiretapping and massive abuse of the surveillance system. A similar scandal sparked the Colourful Revolution of 2016.
Serbia records lowest support for EU in Western Balkans, survey shows
Just 33% of respondents in Serbia backed EU membership, compared with 91% in Albania and 69% in North Macedonia.