Greek Leftist Party Loses Parliamentary Group as MPs Quit
Nea Aristera, [New Left] party loses its right to parliamentary group after most of its MPs resign – a decision linked to former PM Alexis Tsipras' formation of a new…
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Asylum, Bulgarian-Style: Deterrence Has Turned Into Abuse, Corruption and Crime
On paper, Bulgaria’s policy offers asylum claimants protection – but in practice does the exact opposite.
Hungary Shows Limits to Central-Southeast Europe’s ‘Nuclear Renaissance’
Nuclear power remains attractive from an energy security and decarbonisation perspective, but Hungary illustrates how such projects have become more complicated economically and geopolitically to build than a decade ago.
Kosovo Parties Have Way to Go on Women’s Representation – Expert
Ahead of new snap elections, Rrezarta Krasniqi of Democracy for Development, D4D, says Kosovo parties are still failing to go beyond the legal quota when it comes including women on…
Albania
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: June 1, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region.
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The Saint: Island Resort’s Reopening a Boon for Montenegrin Tourism
Closed for five years by a dispute over beach access, Montenegro’s exclusive Sveti Stefan resort is poised to reopen.
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Serbia Grows its Facial Recognition Arsenal Amid Legality Concerns
Serbia dropped reference to biometric technologies from its draft Law on Police, but its interior ministry has anyway installed formidable facial recognition software already used by Russia and Iran to…
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Bulgaria Stops US Military Aircraft Refuelling After Crossing Swords With Trump
Radev halts refuelling arrangement after Trump declines to lift visa requirements for Bulgarian visitors to US.
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Takeover of Critical Media Outlet in Serbia Raises Fears For its Future
Rare critical voice in Serbia's media scene is set to be acquired by new owners, raising concern in civil society about its future independence.
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ARTE Europe Weekly: Just How Corrupt is Europe?
Across the region, corruption is shaking the highest levels of government. How is Europe tackling the issue?
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Croatia Ex-Transport Minister Convicted in Corruption Case
Ruling on Bozidar Kalmeta follows retrial ordered by Supreme Court in decade-long corruption case linked to state road firms and alleged misuse of public funds.
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Romania Mulls Response After Russian Drone Injures Two
Authorities are under pressure to act after another Russian drone breaches country's airspace and explodes, injuring two people.
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Democracy Digest: Witness Claims Chief Suspect in Murder of Slovak Journalist Had Protection
Elsewhere in the region, Hungarian parliament revokes planned withdrawal from the ICC; speculation explodes over possible sale of Czech maker of Semtex; Poland and UK sign a new security and…
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Kosovo Coming-of-Age Film Shows Local Stories ‘Can Connect Internationally’
Blerta Basholli says the Cannes award for her film about a girl maturing in war-afflicted Kosovo shows local films can reach an audience far beyond Kosovo’s borders.
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Vucic Visit Shows China is Now Belgrade’s Key Partner, not Russia
Serbia’s foreign policy officials rests on 'four pillars’ – but for Belgrade, the no-drama Chinese ‘pillar’ is starting to outshine all the rest.
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Wakeup Moment? North Macedonia Femicides Spur Call for Action, Not Words
Authorities say they are responding faster to domestic violence reports – but a series of recent deaths or murders of women suggests the gap between promises and meaningful change remains…
Balkan Insight
Croatia Unveils Taxes on ‘Excess’ Profits and Short-Term Rentals
Minister says new taxes on company profits and short-term rentals will help to curb inflation, now running at 5.4 per cent, one of the highest levels in the EU.
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Preparing for War: How WWII Serb Suffering Was Weaponised Decades Later
As tensions grew in Yugoslavia, Serbia used the crimes committed by the fascist Ustasha forces of World War Two to whip up fear and hatred of Croats, preparing the public…
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Turkey’s ‘Absolute Nullity’ Crisis Could Boost the Opposition, Not Destroy It
The court ruling that ousted the main opposition party’s leadership and the riot police raid on its headquarters have caused public revulsion at an open display of injustice – particularly…
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As Kosovo Election Nears, Women Bear Brunt of Online Abuse and Manipulation
Women politicians such as ex-President Vjosa Osmani are frequent targets of AI-generated false content and online abuse as Kosovo heads to the polls.
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Ukraine Names Bosnian Serb Suspected of War Crimes in Kyiv Area
Ukrainian Security Service says it suspects Davor Savicic, alleged commander of the Wolves combat unit, tortured and mistreated civilian captives while fighting for Russia in Ukraine in 2022.
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Croatia Hails Arbitration Case Win Against Hungary’s MOL Over Gas Dispute
Economy Minister welcomes ruling dismissing Hungarian oil company's claims against Croatia over alleged breaches of Gas Business Agreement.
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EU Sanctions Slash Russian Investments in Montenegro
Central Bank data shows direct investments from Russia have fallen by 73 per cent since EU sanctions were imposed in 2022 over the war against Ukraine.
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Telling the Human Story of What Made Montenegro’s Partisans Fight
Drawing on his father’s World War II experiences, Marko Vukosavovic’s new book about Montenegro's anti-fascist resistance adds a personal touch to the history of the Yugoslav Partisan struggle.
Albania
Letter from Washington: US Puts Energy, Commerce at Core of Balkans Policy
In her latest despatch from Washington, Jovana Djurovic dissects official State Department policy on the Balkans.
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Sole Bidder: SUVs in Kosovo Attack Lead to String of Suspect Serbian Tenders
Unpicking the origins of two luxury SUVs used in a fatal 2023 attack by Serb gunmen in Kosovo, BIRN uncovers a web of companies cornering the Serbian market in energy…
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Serbia Says Farewell to Democracy Campaigner and Former Dissident Dragoljub Micunovic
One of the leading opposition voices in former Yugoslavia and Serbia – who 'never gave up the fight for a democratic Serbia' – has died aged 95.
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Romania’s Hire of Lobby Firm to Strengthen US Ties Draws Criticism
Decision to hire US lobbying firm to boost ties to Trump’s administration prompts questions about the high cost – and whether it is even needed.
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Greece Arrests 22 Suspects Over EU Farming Fraud Scheme
Police on Tuesday say they have dismantled the crime gang that defrauded the Greek state and Brussels by falsely claiming EU agricultural subsidies.
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In New Book, Kosovo War Refugees Recall Harrowing Deportations by Train
‘The Train – On the Border Between Terror and Freedom’ sheds light on mass expulsions during the 1999 war, bringing together testimonies of displacement and survival from survivors.
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Czechia Sticks to its Guns with Timid Reform of Ownership Rules
Czechia’s new gun-ownership law, which treads a fine line between greater transparency and constitutionally protected rights, is unlikely to bring the kind of change many had hoped for in the…
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‘Decades of Investment’ Forged Turkey’s Volleyball and Basketball Successes
Veteran sports journalist Alp Ulagay says Turkey’s triumphs in both sports was the result of careful planning – and an infusion of talent from the Balkans.
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‘This Destroyed Me’: Kosovo Still Failing Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
Less than half of the child sexual abuse cases reported to police in Kosovo in the past 10 years ever resulted in charges. Gaps in institutional coordination, staffing, training and…
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Tito’s Admirers Pay Their Annual Tribute to Yugoslavia’s Strongman
Supporters of late President Josip Broz Tito marked May 25, the date that was celebrated as his official birthday and as Youth Day in socialist Yugoslavia, by making the trip…
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Turkish Police Raid Main Opposition Party HQ to Eject Leadership
Turkish riot police entered the headquarters of the main opposition CHP in Ankara on Sunday, to enforce a controversial court ruling that removed party leader Ozgur Ozel and reinstated former…
Albania
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: May 25, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region.