Southeast Europe / News
Investors ramp up pressure on Turkey for more rate hikes
Calls follow latest inflation readout and warning from MIT economist that monetary policy is not tight enough to achieve the disinflation goal, with the benchmark still negative.
Turkish terminal freezes Russian oil business
Mediterranean facility Dortyol recently sprung to attention when US senators claimed “masked Russian oil” supplied via facility even ended up in US warships.
German foreign minister calls for faster EU enlargement to Western Balkans amid Russia threat
Annalena Baerbock says expansion of the EU to the Western Balkans has become a geopolitical necessity in light of Russia's "brutal imperialism".
Croatian PM Plenkovic announces spring general election
Plenkovic says the ruling HDZ is "full of self-confidence" ahead of election despite a series of scandals involving government ministers.
Nato member Albania opens air base in former ‘Stalin city’
€50mn renovation to turn Cold War era Albanian air base into an important Nato hub.
Serbian president claims West wants ‘puppet regime’ in Belgrade
President Aleksandar Vucic tackles opposition grievances over December 2023 elections, but slams Western interference in Serbian politics.
Turkey suspected of war crimes as occupying power in northern Syria, says HRW report
Given Ankara’s denunciations of Israel’s activities in Gaza, Erdogan administration exposed to claims of gross hypocrisy.
Western Balkan leaders commit to accelerated regional cooperation
Albanian PM calls at Tirana summit for fellow Western Balkan leaders to overcome historic conflicts to achieve prosperity.
Bulgaria has just days to strike deal on new government or faces early election
Gerb’s Mariya Gabriel is due to take over the PM seat on March 8, but the government’s pro-Western backers are increasingly divided.
Battle for Bucharest mayor seat heats up
Ex-mayor Gabriela Firea unexpectedly announced her candidacy, while Romania's ruling parties are still discussing who to nominate.
Ukraine's Zelenskiy seeks support from Southeast Europe at Tirana summit
Ukrainian president and Albanian prime minister warn of Russian threat to destabilise the region.
North Macedonia faces food price surge as price protection measures expire
North Macedonia had one of the highest inflation rates in the region, peaking in late 2022.
Kalfalar, the Turkish village with a population of one
And 87-year-old Ibrahim Elaslan says he's never leaving.
Western Balkans power sector risks “complete meltdown” warns think-tank
Policy brief from think-tank CEPS says there is an “acute and imminent risk” of collapse due to outdated infrastructure.
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Macron says sending Nato ground troops to Ukraine should not be ruled out
French president says Russia now presents a greater danger and nothing should be excluded.
US claims sanctions success, says Russia’s financial flows with Turkey, UAE and Kazakhstan disrupted
Washington says secondary sanctions threat against financial firms has put “sand in the gears” of network used to help Kremlin get access to goods.
Montenegro’s government at risk as president quits ruling PES
Several MPs leave EU-oriented PES after President Jakov Milatovic's departure, eroding majority in parliament.
Western Balkans to take up to 70 years to catch up with EU
New EBRD report finds low productivity, weak institutions and unfavourable demographics mean convergence may not happen until 2093.
Video shows dozens of migrants stripped and forced across Serbia-North Macedonia border
Footage shared by NGO Legis appears to show a group of semi-naked men being sent back into North Macedonia by Serbian border police in sub-zero temperatures.
Moldova’s separatist Transnistria rumoured to be seeking unification with Russia
Speculation leaders in Tiraspol could ask Russia to make separatist region part of the Federation at a congress next week.