Politics

Nationalism and revisionism in Croatia: teenagers tools and victims

28/02/2019 -  Ivana Polić

In Croatia in recent months there have been numerous cases of violence against minorities, racism, incitement to hatred. And minors where involved

Serbia: the prime minister's child

01/03/2019 -  Antonela Riha Belgrade

The fact that the Serbian prime minister recently had a child from her partner does not make her legally a parent. In fact, Serbia lacks a law on same-sex marriages. Could this be the chance?

The regulation of political communication during electoral campaigns in Italy

22/02/2019 -  Sofia Verza

In Italy, regulation on political communication in the media largely emerged from concerns with extensive use of TV ads in the 1990s, when Silvio Berlusconi entered politics. Two decades later, there is an urgent need to update this regulation to the digital age

Srebrenica, revisionist siege

01/03/2019 -  Alfredo Sasso

Republika Srpska has appointed two new international commissions tasked with establishing the crimes committed in Srebrenica and those committed against the Serbian population in Sarajevo. A group of academics and various analysts highlight its revisionist intentions

Albania: the day after the protest of the opposition

18/02/2019 -  Gentiola Madhi

In Albania last Saturday a rally organised by opposition coalition degenerated in violent actions. A group of protesters instigated a confrontation with the police cordon around the government building

Turkey, journalism is not a crime

14/02/2019 -  Burcu Karakaş

Articles used as evidence against the accused, long periods of detention, a definition of "terrorism" with vague boundaries. In Turkey, the press freedom situation continues to cause concern. The report by our correspondent

The Eu and de facto states: adjust expectations, support small steps

13/02/2019 -  Giorgio Comai

Meaningful engagement with de facto states and consistent, patient support for constructive approaches as they emerge from the region are the way to go for the EU and other international actors in the coming months

(North) Macedonia and the Prespa agreement, success or defeat?

06/02/2019 -  Ilcho Cvetanoski Skopje

Contrasting reactions in (North) Macedonia to the ratification of the Prespa agreement by Greece. The government celebrates a unique opportunity and investment in the future, the opposition laments an unbalanced agreement and loss of identity

Turkey, an increasingly armed country

24/01/2019 -  Burcu Karakaş Istanbul

In Turkey, more and more citizens own firearms, often unregistered. A central factor in the increase in incidents of violence recorded in recent years

Croatia, a thousand lawsuits against journalists

18/01/2019 -  Giovanni Vale Zagreb

There are over a thousand ongoing trials against journalists or Croatian media, and the list is not complete. The complaint of the Association of Croatian Journalists

(North) Macedonia, the new name comes with hopes and high costs

17/01/2019 -  Ilcho Cvetanoski

Last week, the Skopje parliament gave the green light to changing the country's constitutional name, to become North Macedonia after the expected ratification by Greece. An overview by our correspondent

Sarajevo, unbreathable air

09/01/2019 -  Alfredo Sasso Sarajevo

Between 2 and 4 December, Sarajevo was the most polluted capital in the world, at least according to data provided by US embassies, that constantly monitor the environmental situation of the cities where they are based

Escalation of students’ protests in Albania

20/12/2018 -  Gentiola Madhi

In front of the refusal by the Albanian government to abolish the law on higher education, after two weeks of peaceful demonstrations, students have opted for an escalation of their protests

Students’ protests shake apathy in Albania

11/12/2018 -  Gentiola Mahdi

The increase of tuition fees, low quality of teaching, and lack of adequate infrastructures in public universities have led to widespread student protests in Tirana and other university towns in Albania

Investigative journalism in Bulgaria, the challenge is to resist

06/12/2018 -  Francesco Martino Sofia

From his recent arrest during an investigation on corruption in public procurement to the murder of TV host Viktoria Marinova, Bivol's investigative journalist Dimitar Stoyanov gives an overview of the criticizes of information in Bulgaria

Albania, vetting process and bilateral issues with Greece

05/12/2018 -  Gentiola Madhi

The slow vetting process of judges and prosecutors in Albania has been stalling the establishment of the new self-governing bodies of the judiciary, affecting the resolution of the country’s longstanding bilateral issues with Greece

Serbia: Hitler, caricature artist and media freedom

21/11/2018 -  Antonela Riha Belgrade

The media situation in Serbia continues to deteriorate. Recent events show that government repression of few remaining non-aligned media has become routine. According to RWB, Serbia has the worst media situation in all the Balkans

Macedonia, the Gruevski's escape

20/11/2018 -  Ilcho Cvetanoski Skopje

Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski, sentenced to two years in prison for the illicit purchase of a luxury limousine, fled to Hungary seeking political asylum. The scandal has had a massive impact on the Hungarian as well as Macedonian political scene

Between language and autonomy. Growing tensions between Ukraine and Hungary

09/11/2018 -  Oleksiy Bondarenko

Hungary was the first country to recognise Kiev's independence, but now relations between the two states are strained by tensions over the situation of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, while Russia watches in glee

Chechnya-Ingushetia: a border change fuels new tensions

31/10/2018 -  Marat Iliyasov

An unusual wave of protest has rocked Ingushetia. Changes in the administrative borders between Chechnya and Ingushetia sparked the mobilisation. Lack of dialogue and Ingush fears of having their republic merged with Chechnya kept them going

(North) Macedonia, the price of a name

23/10/2018 -  Ilcho Cvetanoski Skopje

With the support of some opposition MPs, the Skopje government has started the process of changing the country's constitution and name. The controversial process is unlikely to end before January 2019

Post-elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina: heavy politics

12/10/2018 -  Alfredo Sasso Sarajevo

Nationalists celebrate in Sarajevo and Banja Luka, while doubts remain on a possible boycott of the state and federal institutions by Croatian nationalist party HDZ. An analysis

The black dawn of Greece: Golden Dawn on trial

09/10/2018 -  Elvira Krithari Atene

The trial against the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn is currently underway in Greece. A case that is testing the ability of the Greek society to reject the drive of intolerance and hatred grown in the shadow of the economic crisis

"Let's go all the way". In David Square, Banja Luka

05/10/2018 -  Alfredo Sasso Banja Luka

Parents, grandparents, children – hundreds of people have been guarding Banja Luka's main square for over six months, demanding justice for David. Regardless of who wins Sunday's elections, they are determined to go all the way

After the referendum, Macedonia still divided on the name issue

03/10/2018 -  Ilija Minovski Skopje

Despite the low turnout in Sunday's "name referendum", Macedonia's government is still pushing to reach a compromise with the opposition to change the Constitution. In case no agreement is secured, though, snap elections will follow

Macedonians to vote on new name

28/09/2018 -  Ilija Minovski Skopje

Macedonian citizens will vote on Sunday on the Prespa agreement, which foresees "Republic of North Macedonia" as a new constitutional name for their country, in an attempt to overcome the long "name dispute" with Greece

Ahmeti, being mayor of Prishtina

05/09/2018 -  Giovanni ValeJelena Prtorić

In his second term, Shpend Ahmeti, former member of Vetëvendosje! and now of the Social Democratic Party, explains what he sees in the immediate future of Kosovo's capital: solidarity, fair development, and social justice

Croatia Must Not Whitewash the Horrors of Jasenovac

03/09/2018 -  Menachem Rosensaft

An article published by Croatia’s best-read newspaper downplaying the atrocities at the Jasenovac concentration camp was an attempt to rehabilitate Croatia’s WWII fascist Ustasa regime and deny its complicity in the Holocaust

#Diciotti, tweets, and #Albania: solidarity at the time of the web

31/08/2018 -  Nicola Pedrazzi

Despite tweets and announcements, no asylum seeker of the Diciotti ship has been transferred from Italy to Albania. Without their consent, the solution proclaimed by the two governments would be illegal. A comment

Greece leaves bailout programmes: “And now, what’s going to happen to us without barbarians?"

29/08/2018 -  Elvira Krithari Athens

What is going to happen in Greece without external financial help is yet to be seen. Regardless of what the government and the opposition affirm, the financial crisis is not over