West should set its own red lines, not just accept Putin’s, argues veteran diplomat – POLITICO

West should set its own red lines, not just accept Putin’s, argues veteran diplomat – POLITICO

Talking with POLITICO on the margins of  the recent annual Yalta European Strategy conference, a high-level gathering of Ukrainian and Western leaders and officials, Ischinger, added with a chuckle:  “Of course, as many of my friends remind me, the problem, is that if you paint a red line you’ve got to stick to it. You can’t … Read more

Balkan plot to dig up Yugoslav leader Tito’s remains hits a wall  – POLITICO

Balkan plot to dig up Yugoslav leader Tito’s remains hits a wall  – POLITICO

The proposal to rehouse Tito has caused rifts within Serbia’s ruling coalition, which although led by the center-right Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) also includes the Socialist Party of Serbia and the Movement of Socialists, as well as the ultranationalist Serbian Oathkeepers. Outside the government, prominent intellectuals in Serbia have balked at the idea of disinterring … Read more

War of words between Serbia and Kosovo intensifies as EU talks stall – POLITICO

War of words between Serbia and Kosovo intensifies as EU talks stall – POLITICO

The tit-for-tat followed the Serbian leader’s calls this week for new municipal elections in northern Kosovo to ease tensions that flared in 2023 when the Serbian community largely boycotted the ballot. The local Serbs wanted to express dissatisfaction with Pristina, but the move backfired when ethnic Albanian candidates, representing just over 3 percent of the … Read more

Croatian popstar calls Serbia leader Vučić a ‘dictator’ after border ordeal – POLITICO

Croatian popstar calls Serbia leader Vučić a ‘dictator’ after border ordeal – POLITICO

“I will never go to Serbia again as long as the dictator is in power,” Severina said on Monday. “I asked the law enforcement authorities why they did not arrest German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently when he came to visit them, since Germany voted in the United Nations for the resolution on Srebrenica,” the singer … Read more

European commissioner nominee pick signals Greece’s rightward turn – POLITICO

European commissioner nominee pick signals Greece’s rightward turn – POLITICO

To his supporters, Tzitzikostas is considered a party stalwart, and was elected governor on three successive occasions with impressive support. Fluent in English and French, he studied at Georgetown University in the U.S. and University College London. Crucially, he also has experience with European institutions, having served as president of the European Committee of the … Read more

Mystery crocodile confounds Bulgarian authorities – POLITICO

Mystery crocodile confounds Bulgarian authorities – POLITICO

The frustrated local mayor, Lilia Donkova, complained she pushed for action from the environmental and veterinary authorities since last month without a response. “I am just lost for words. It means that I have the feeling that, in this country, there just aren’t any state institutions,” Donkova said in an interview with Bulgarian broadcaster NOVA. … Read more

After 6 general elections in 3 years, Bulgaria heads to polls for seventh time – POLITICO

After 6 general elections in 3 years, Bulgaria heads to polls for seventh time – POLITICO

Bulgaria is heading for its seventh parliamentary election since 2021, deepening the Balkan country’s political stalemate and further jeopardizing its potential accession to the eurozone, the country’s president announced on Monday. The last vote, held in June to coincide with European elections, failed to produce a winner, and none of the new political forces and … Read more

Holocaust vote throws wrench in Montenegro’s EU bid – POLITICO

Holocaust vote throws wrench in Montenegro’s EU bid – POLITICO

The vote overshadowed a positive week for Spajić’s pro-EU centrist government. The PM described his administration as having been “really optimistic and pumped up” after overcoming a major hurdle in its EU accession talks at an intergovernmental conference in Brussels on June 26. Spajić wants to get his country into the EU by 2028 and … Read more

Serbia’s Vučić fumes as footballers travel to Euro 2024 on Croatian plane – POLITICO

Serbia’s Vučić fumes as footballers travel to Euro 2024 on Croatian plane – POLITICO

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić was “extremely angry” that his country’s men’s football team traveled to the European Championship in Germany on a Croatian plane. That’s according to Ana Brnabić, a former Serbian prime minister and current president of its parliament, who discussed the controversy during an appearance on Happy TV-u. “We have our Air Serbia … Read more

Balkan drama sizzles as Serbia threatens to quit Euro 2024 – POLITICO

After 6 general elections in 3 years, Bulgaria heads to polls for seventh time – POLITICO

On the field, Serbia equalized in the final seconds to draw 1-1 with Slovenia on Thursday afternoon, to keep alive its hopes of advancing in the tournament. But before the match started, Jovan Šurbatović, general secretary of FSS, said he had complained about Serbia’s regional rivals. “What happened is scandalous and we will ask UEFA … Read more