All the news

Culture: artists' mobility as driving force of the economy

23/08/2024 -  Paola Rosà

An Interreg project involved Italy, Albania and Montenegro in the relaunch of cultural spaces intended to host artists and creatives, to promote new forms of tourism and foster cultural industries

Bulgaria and Hungary’s Reluctant Green Transition

21/08/2024 -  Massimo Guglietta

While the European Union has made a strong effort to create a recovery plan that incorporates sustainability targets, some member states are falling behind in their duty to implement such reforms

Open Balkan, a failed step in the right direction

20/08/2024 -  Sava Mirković

Conceived as an alternative to EU cooperation, the Open Balkan initiative, promoted by Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia, aimed to create a regional common market to allow the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. The reasons for its failure

Romania and Bulgaria, trains worth improving

16/08/2024 -  Vlad Barză

In many European countries people increasingly use trains for their travel, preferring them to cars. This is not happening in Romania and Bulgaria, because of the poor state of rail service. Something is starting to change however

Oskar Maurer and Serbia’s natural wine revolution

13/08/2024 -  Ian Bancroft

From being criticised for his unconventional wines to finding them in the cellars of top Michelin-starred restaurants, Oskar Maurer is a reference for natural wine production in Serbia. We spoke to him about his winemaking philosophy and much more

Russian border guards leave Yerevan airport in symbolic break from Moscow

08/08/2024 -  Onnik James Krikorian

After thirty-two years, on July 31, Armenians and Russians signed a protocol to end the presence of Russian border guards at Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport. This does not signify Moscow’s withdrawal from Armenia, but nevertheless has symbolic value

Winemaking in Serbia: coping with a changing climate

07/08/2024 -  Ian Bancroft

Climate change is affecting wine production around the world. Adaptation and resilience are the only answers to this ever-changing situation. Radovan Đorđević, owner of Vinarija Čokot, is facing this situation in the Serbian region of Župa

North Macedonia, the emergency response system needs changes

06/08/2024 -  Aleksandar Samardjiev Tetovo

The vast fires that have hit North Macedonia in recent weeks have called into question the country's outdated system for responding to emergency situations. A problem made more serious by the lack of resources and personnel

More green hydrogen for the Alpine region

01/08/2024 -  Gianluca De Feo

From Slovenia to France, passing through Trentino: the AMETHyST project promotes the production and use of green hydrogen in the Alpine regions. An experience of transnational cooperation oriented towards energy transition and innovation

Armenia and Turkey meet on closed border

01/08/2024 -  Onnik James Krikorian

On 30 July, the Armenian and Turkish special envoys for normalising relations between the two countries met on their shared border. Though encouraging, however, the process appears to remain linked to normalising relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Renewables, a potential yet to be fulfilled

30/07/2024 -  Ornaldo Gjergji

Rural areas have a key role in ensuring the success of the energy transition. Installing new ground-mounted photovoltaic systems in the countryside of Spain, Romania and France would cover a large part of the European Union's energy needs

Silencing the Fourth Estate: Italy’s Democratic Drift

29/07/2024 -  Redazione

The Media Freedom Rapid Response today publishes the final report of the advocacy mission that took place last May in Rome. Public service independence, legal threats, conflicts of interest and market concentration are the main themes

Western Balkans, EU integration and cooperation

26/07/2024 -  Gentiola Madhi

"We must go beyond the idea that the Western Balkans are a sort of ghetto made up of non-EU countries. This would contribute not only to the Europeanisation of the Western Balkans, but also to overcoming some disagreements between candidate countries and EU member states". Ana Krstinovska, founder and president of the think tank Estima based in Bitola, in North Macedonia and research fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)

EU cohesion policy, time for reform

25/07/2024 -  Massimo Guglietta

While cohesion policy to support economic development across Europe has not fully lived up to expectations, new research suggests various reforms for how the EU can more efficiently support its poorest regions before the next budgetary cycle

Romania, volunteers for the diaspora

23/07/2024 -  Lola García-AjofrínSebastian Pricop

The Facebook group "RoOmenia" connects tens of thousands of Romanian citizens scattered across Europe, providing concrete help – from housing to medication – and contrasting the loneliness of many expats. An initiative launched by a group of lorry drivers

Early marriages in Armenia

23/07/2024 -  Armine Avetisyan Yerevan

Despite some impediments provided by law, the phenomenon of early marriages exists in Armenia. So much so that a new bill intends to set the minimum age for marriage at 18, without exception, and to repeal all the rules referring to early marriages and underage spouses

Digital security in Serbia: another challenge to media freedom

22/07/2024 -  Serena Epis

Media outlets in the country are increasingly exposed to cyber attacks, online threats and manipulations. We talked about digital security and its impact on independent journalism in Serbia with Bojan Perkov, digital policy coordinator at SHARE Foundation

The battle for the Shushica Valley

22/07/2024 -  Christian EliaNensi Bogdani (photos)

In Albania, when the protection of the Vjosa river and its tributaries seemed almost guaranteed, a project aimed at tourism development has once again called everything into question, threatening an area with a population of over 50 thousand people

Transnistria: when buying time, make sure to use it wisely

19/07/2024 -  Giorgio ComaiBernardo Venturi

Russia’s gas subsidy – a key ingredient enabling Transnistria’s political economy – may remain in place for a couple more years, but its existence is based on increasingly shaky grounds. Chișinău is ensuring its own energy security, but long term stability in Moldova requires solid arrangements also for Tiraspol

Migration management in the Balkans

18/07/2024 -  Massimo Guglietta

Despite various reports of migration mismanagement and human rights abuses in Serbia, the European Commission at the end of June signed an agreement with Belgrade to strengthen cooperation on migration control