Southeast Europe / Features
Viktor Orban makes huge political misstep in supporting Simion, Hungarian analyst says
The outcome has been a defeat for Viktor Orban as ethnic Hungarians overwhelmingly supported the pro-European candidate, Nicusor Dan.
Afghanistan: Grappling with fall-out of dwindling foreign aid
Almost all US assistance terminated.
EBRD2025: Croatia seeks to build on decade of economic progress
Finance Minister Marko Primorac details Zagreb’s objectives including an overhaul of state owned enterprises, accession to the OECD and revitalisation of the local capital market.
Albania’s ruling Socialists head for historic fourth term
Polls show PM Edi Rama’s Socialist Party has a strong lead over its main rival, the opposition Democratic Party, which promises to ‘make Albania great again’.
“Lost” Ottoman era painting reappears at Sotheby’s London, sold for a million at auction
Osman Hamdi Bey’s 1881 work Kahve Hazirlamak was bought by a Georgian prince around 1910. Its whereabouts became a mystery.
After Samarkand summit, Europe’s quest for Central Asian resources meets reality
Playing long game for rare earths.
Trump policies won’t harm Emerging Europe badly – and will actively benefit Russia
Latest wiiw forecasts show little direct impact on Central and Southeast Europe from Trump trade wars.
Montenegro mega beach deal reignites debate over UAE investments in Western Balkans
A plan to develop Montenegro’s Velika Plaza beach has become the latest battleground in a growing backlash against UAE-backed real estate deals across the Western Balkans.
How Europe has weaned itself off Russian gas in the last three years
In 2021, Eastern European countries imported almost half of their gas from Russia. Only two countries in the region – Albania and Kosovo – were wholly independent of Russian gas.
Retail markets in Zagreb, Ljubljana and Belgrade hold “significant potential”, says CBRE
The retail real estate sectors in Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia are showing strong potential for further development, according to new research by global real estate consultancy CBRE.
"Republic of prison campuses" Turkey has so many inmates, 100,000 sleep on floor
To deal with overflow, authorities often choose to put hardened criminals on probation rather than political prisoners.
Western Balkans countries struggle to reverse demographic decline
Governments turn to short-term fixes and immigration push to tackle deepening demographic crisis but shy away from deeper reforms, says OSW report.
Romanian geothermal expert Green Tech International has dual listing in sight after Bucharest IPO
Company aims to triple its active geothermal capacity, double installed capacity to 1 GWt by 2028 and expand into downstream business lines, COO Dragoș Gavriluță tells bne IntelliNews.
The rise of war-hardened Balkan crime groups in South America’s cocaine market
Global Initiative report reveals organised crime groups from the Western Balkans have firmly embedded themselves in South America’s cocaine trade.
Rule of law in EU deteriorates, with decline concentrated in eastern members
Liberties report finds collapse of democratic standards in Hungary, and strong deteriorations in Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Romania and Slovakia.
Russia's leading discount store Fix Price to move into Serbia
Russian discount retailer Fix Price is preparing to enter the Serbian market, with plans to open several stores by the end of 2025. This marks the company's second attempt to establish a presence in Europe.
Turkey in undeclared state of emergency following detention of Erdogan rival Imamoglu
Lira drops 14% as markets take fright. Barring an exceptional pushback from opposition, however, on past performance, country will soon go back to “normal”.
Southeast Europe erupts in weekend of protests
Protests in Serbia, Georgia and Hungary reflect mounting discontent over corruption and democratic backsliding, while Romanians turn out to show commitment to EU values in face of rising far right.
Turkmenistan is trying to come out of its shell
Economic necessity is the mother of diversification.
EU countries weigh costs of planned military buildup
What we know so far about EU member states’ plans to hike defence spending in face of "existential challenge" from Russia, and how this will be financed.