Southeast Europe / News
Kremlin says Serbia’s Vucic will attend Moscow parade
Move risks a serious rupture with Brussels as Serbia takes an increasingly ambivalent stance to EU enlargement.
Serbia's protesting students demand snap elections
Demand signals a more direct confrontation with the government and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party SNS after months of protests.
Economy a key battleground as Albania heads for general election
Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition leader Sali Berisha are trading barbs over growth, taxes and the cost of living.
EU allies prepared to back Moldova’s EU accession bid without Ukraine if Hungary’s veto not lifted
EU member states most supportive of Ukraine are ready to move forward with accession talks for Moldova without Ukraine, if Hungary continues to block progress for Kyiv.
Romania’s PM Ciolacu resigns
Political instability looms as no new government expected until presidential election runoff between far-right George Simion and pro-EU reformer Nicusur Dan.
Turkey’s opposition leader assaulted in Istanbul
Sequence of events led to Ozgur Ozel departing funeral via front door, where he was attacked in front of camera crews.
George Simion takes decisive lead in Romanian presidential election first round
AUR leader Simion took over 40% of the vote in the first round, giving him a strong chance of victory in the runoff.
Press freedom declines sharply in several Balkan countries
Declines reported in Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania in the latest global ranking from Reporters Without Borders.
Romanian nationalist politician Simion is strong frontrunner in presidential election first round
A win for AUR leader George Simion could lead to political instability and alter Romania’s stance on regional issues, including the war in Ukraine.
Serbian president stable after falling ill during US visit
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was briefly hospitalised in Belgrade on May 3 after abruptly cutting short a visit to the United States due to health concerns.
Turkey pushes up exporter obligation to sell FX to central bank to 35% of revenues
Since detention of Erdogan's main political rival Imamoglu, government has struggled to ease pressure on the lira.
Turkey’s interference with judiciary has deepened, says Amnesty report
Erdogan regime continues to simply ignore local court and European court rulings that it does not like.
Albania’s 2025 general election to test democratic institutions
May 11 vote follows changes to the electoral system and the introduction of out-of-country voting, points out OSCE/ODIHR report.
Aid ship to Gaza hit by drone strikes near Malta in international waters
A ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's mission to break Israel's blockade has reportedly been hit by drone strikes in international waters near Malta.
Far-right candidate leads Romania presidential race as mainstream rivals battle for runoff spot
AUR leader George Simion tops the polls ahead of Romania’s May 4 presidential election first round.
MOL and TPAO bring upstream partnership to Hungary
Hungarian oil and gas company MOL and Turkish peer TPAO are partnering on hydrocarbon exploration and production in the west of Hungary, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said.
Italy and Europe must raise their voices against coup in Turkey, opposition leader tells Italian daily
Ozgur Ozel gives interview as Turkish president Erdogan, accused of jailing man he knows he can’t beat in an election, visits Rome.
Moldova approves €8bn development plan for 2026-2028, but faces major funding gap
Cost of updated plan is equivalent to nearly half of Moldova’s 2024 GDP.
Croatia to prioritise economic cooperation as chair of Three Seas Initiative
Zagreb will focus on boosting economic, energy and infrastructure cooperation as it assumes the rotating presidency of the Three Seas Initiative, announced Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
“We stand with Ekrem Imamoglu,” Florence mayor writes on city hall wall
Chief political opponent to Turkey's leader Erdogan remains imprisoned facing what he says are politically-motivated fake charges.