Southeast Europe / News
Serbia plans record spending ahead of Expo 2027
2026 budget prioritises infrastructure investments linked to the government’s Leap into the Future – Serbia 2027 programme.
Bulgaria moves to seize Lukoil refinery to shield it from US sanctions
Bulgaria is preparing to take control of Russian oil company Lukoil’s Burgas refinery, the country’s only oil-processing facility, to protect it from US sanctions.
Nato chief downplays US troop withdrawal, reaffirms commitment to Romania
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to ease concerns over the recent withdrawal of a US infantry brigade from Romania.
Serbia braces for clashes as Kosovo Serbs join protests in Belgrade
Serbs from Kosovo have arrived in Belgrade after a week-long march, joining pro-government demonstrators calling for an end to over a year of student-led blockades and anti-government protests.
Croatia sees defence industry as key driver of economic growth
Defence Minister Ivan Anušić says global demand for defence equipment has surged since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, creating new openings for Croatia’s high-tech manufacturers.
New members expected to join EU by 2030 as enlargement momentum builds
Top European Commission officials say admitting new member states to the European Union by 2030 is now a “realistic goal”.
Ex-parliament speaker Konjufca proposed as Kosovo’s next PM in attempt to break deadlock
Vetëvendosje leader and acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has been unable to secure support to form a government since the February general election.
IMF’s Georgieva says Eurozone entry no guarantee of higher living standards for Bulgaria
Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva urged policymakers to stay focused on reforms to boost productivity, competitiveness and income growth ahead of accession in January 2026.
Rheinmetall invests €400mn in propellant powders joint venture in Romania
Partnership is part of Bucharest’s effort to attract defence investment and expand its domestic industrial capacity.
EU’s Kallas warns Bosnia’s EU accession window could close if reforms stall
EU officials have repeatedly said that the bloc’s door remains open to Bosnia, but internal political divisions and delayed reforms have slowed progress toward membership.
Serbia moves to fast-track controversial Trump hotel project
$500mn luxury hotel and residential complex to be built on the site of the former Yugoslav defence ministry in central Belgrade, destroyed during the 1999 Nato bombardment.
Serbian police arrest dozens during clashes outside parliament
The confrontation erupted when anti-government protesters faced off with ruling party supporters camping opposite the parliament building.
Moldova’s new government sworn in with goal to sign EU accession treaty by 2028
With a fragile majority in the parliament, the new cabinet has pledged to prioritise EU accession and economic development.
Tensions rise in Serbia as protesters clash outside parliament
The confrontation followed a massive anti-government demonstration in Novi Sad on November 1.
Albanian deputy prime minister faces corruption investigation
Energy and Infrastructure Minister Belinda Balluku is one of the most senior figures in Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party.
Bulgaria suspends fuel exports to EU after US sanctions Lukoil
Bulgaria has temporarily suspended exports of petroleum products to European Union countries after the United States imposed sanctions on Russian oil giant Lukoil.
Tens of thousands rally in Serbia's Novi Sad one year after deadly station collapse
Tragedy that killed 16 people has become a symbol of public anger over corruption and negligence, fueling Serbia’s largest protest movement in more than a decade.
Serbia’s NIS posts 9-month net loss as US sanctions weigh on performance
NIS, majority-owned by Russia’s Gazprom Group, said it had operated in “extremely complex circumstances” after sanctions were announced by the US Treasury Department.
US lifts sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik
Dodik has been a dominant figure in Bosnian politics for more than two decades and is a key ally of Serbia and Russia in the region.
Serbian students march to Novi Sad for anniversary protest
Hundreds of students from across Serbia are marching on foot to the northern city of Novi Sad ahead of a November 1 commemoration marking one year since the collapse of a railway station canopy that killed 16 people.