Thousands mark Serbian Statehood Day with mass protest against corruption

Thousands of Serbians blocked Kragujevacโ€™s main boulevard on February 15 in the latest student-led protest since the deadly collapse of Novi Sadโ€™s train station roof. Marking Serbiaโ€™s Statehood holiday, demonstrators called for government accountabili…

The Guardian view on Kosovoโ€™s election result: a gateway to rapprochement with the EU

A new coalition government may seek to rebuild bridges with western partners, at a perilous geopolitical momentSeventeen years after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, its future remains shadowed and compromised by relations with Belgrade. More …

Kosovo faces political uncertainty as ruling party fails to secure election majority

PM Albin Kurti claims โ€˜victoryโ€™ and vows to form government but analysts warn of prolonged crisis and instabilityThe governing party of the prime minister, Albin Kurti, is on track to secure the most seats in Kosovoโ€™s parliament but will lack the numbe…

Kosovo PM Albin Kurti wins election amid tensions with Brussels and Washington

His ruling party fell short of a majority and will need to find a coalition partner if it hopes to continue in power.

Kosovoโ€™s Kurti tops polls as second term likely to revive Belgrade-Pristina talks

After Sunday’s polls, Kosovoโ€™s stalled normalisation talks with neighbouring Serbia could see a revival but not become any easier. Exit polls showed incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurtiโ€™s Vetรซvendosje party in first place, with 38.2% of Sundayโ€™s vote, …

Parliamentary elections in Kosovo: ‘Key issue is relationship with Serbia’

Polls opened in Kosovo on Sunday after a combative election campaign in which opposition candidates clashed with Prime Minister Albin Kurti over the economy, corruption and relations with the country’s old foe and neighbour Serbia. “As ever, with Koso…

Kosovo votes in parliamentary elections amid tensions with Serbia

Voters began casting ballots in Kosovo elections Sunday in a contest that pits combative incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s quest to stamp out Serbian influence against a fractured opposition’s vow to boost the economy. Condemned by the EU and the…

Kosovo votes in legislative elections seen as key test for PM Kurti

Kosovars cast their votes Sunday in a parliamentary election considered a key test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti as talks on normalising ties with rival Serbia remain stalled and foreign funding for one of Europe’s poorest countries in question.

Kosovo goes to the polls as the shadow of Trump looms large

Fears of partition that arose during Trumpโ€™s first administration have re-emerged as PM Albin Kurti navigates tense relations with both US and EUKosovo goes to the polls on Sunday in an election that could mark a crossroads in the young countryโ€™s hist…

Kosovo votes in parliamentary elections clouded by tensions with Serbia

Kosovars are voting Sunday in parliamentary elections that could determine who will lead the Kosovo side in negotiations with Serbia, which stalled last year. Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party campaigned on a tough line with Serbia while the oppositi…

Britainโ€™s Karen Pierce swaps DC embassy for the Balkans

Former British ambassador in Washington will help lead a summit this fall tackling illegal migration.

Serbian lithium mine European Parliament film screening fuels dispute

The European Union needs lithium for its energy transition and is eagerly eyeing huge reserves in northern Serbia, but twenty years after making the discovery in the Jadar valley, Rio Tintoโ€™s ambitions to mine the site remain stuck in a mire of environ…

Serbiaโ€™s students are showing the world how to restore democratic hope | Adriana Zaharijeviฤ‡

An authoritarian regime has been rocked by an anti-corruption movement generating society-wide anger and indignationAdriana Zaharijeviฤ‡ is a philosopher at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of BelgradeWhen a building structure …

โ€˜Weโ€™ve proved that change is possibleโ€™ โ€“ but Serbia protesters unsure of next move

With student-led activists reluctant to engage politically against well-entrenched regime, many are asking: now what?When Serbian protesters took over the town of Novi Sad this weekend and staged a triumphant street festival, occasional chants could be…

Europeans on democracyโ€™s frontlines offer advice to Americans: never give up

With the new Trump era likely to pose unprecedented challenges the message from Europeโ€™s fragile democracies is: stay united and safeguard your institutionsEuropeans who witnessed democracy crumble before their eyes have some words of advice for Americ…

Tens of thousands rally against Serbian government in student-led protests โ€“ video report

Three months to the day after a concrete canopy collapsed at the entrance of Novi Sadโ€™s railway station, protesters converged on the northern city and blockaded three bridges in commemoration of the 15 people killed in the incident. The tragedy has bee…

In Serbia, tens of thousands of students march against President Vucic in Novi Sad: ‘We’re no longer alone’

Three months after the collapse of the awning at the local train station, which claimed 15 lives, the anger in the country is still not dying down, despite the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, announced on January 28.

Major anti-corruption protests in Serbia add to pressure on President Vuฤiฤ‡

Tens of thousands rally against government and in memory of railway station roof collapse that killed 15Serbiaโ€™s powerful populist leader Aleksandar Vuฤiฤ‡ was facing his biggest challenge yet as student-led demonstrations intensified at the weekend in …

Students lead Danube bridge blockade in protest over Serbia’s leadership

Serbiaโ€™s student population were the driving force behind mass demonstrations that blocked bridges over the River Danube in the city of Novi Sad on Saturday. Persistent protests have been part of a growing anti-corruption movement that forced the resi…

EU silent as protests in Serbia gain momentum

While von Ursula von der Leyen has not hesitated to express support for โ€œthe Georgian people fighting for democracy”, she has remained remarkably quiet about the uprising in Serbia.
The post EU silent as protests in Serbia gain momentum appeared first …

โ€˜We are done with corruptionโ€™: how the students of Serbia rose up against the system

In a country grappling with weak rule of law, many seek freedom from a government long seen as authoritarianSitting on the balustrade of a viaduct in Belgrade, Uroลก Pantoviฤ‡ wasnโ€™t in the mood to mince his words. The 22-year-old had joined tens of thou…

Serbian president not interested in ‘most corrupt and deceitful’ Guardian coverage โ€“ย video

The Serbian president, Aleksandar Vuฤ‡iฤ‡, has said he is not interested in what the ‘most corrupt, most deceitful’ Guardian writes about the protests in his country that have toppled his prime minister, Miloลก Vuฤeviฤ‹. Speaking at a press conference, the…

Student protestors unfazed by PM Vucevic resignation, demanding Serbia ‘become a different society’

Students in Serbia vowed to continue protesting even after the country’s Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced his resignation on Tuesday, following weeks of mass demonstrations over the fatal collapse of a train station roof in November. For in-dept…

Protests across Serbia lead to prime minister’s resignation โ€“ย video

Miloลก Vuฤeviฤ‡ has resigned after mounting pressure and months of ongoing protests. What began as student-led protests have ballooned to include thousands of teachers, farmers and other workers blaming the disaster on corruption within the government, w…

Serbian prime minister resigns amid anti-corruption protests

Miloลก Vuฤeviฤ‡ steps down โ€˜in order to defuse tensionsโ€™ as demonstrations continue after deadly station roof collapseSerbiaโ€™s prime minister has resigned after weeks of anti-corruption protests prompted by the deadly collapse of a train station roof in …

What does the resignation of its populist prime minister mean for Serbia?

Milos Vuฤeviฤ‡ quit in an attempt to calm political tensions after months of anti-corruption protests led by studentsSerbiaโ€™s populist prime minister, Miloลก Vuฤeviฤ‡, has resigned in an attempt to calm political tensions after months of anti-corruption p…

Serbian prime minister resigns as popular protests persist โ€“ย video

The Serbian prime minister, Miloลก Vuฤeviฤ‡, has resigned a day after Serbian students staged a daylong blockage of a main traffic intersection in Belgrade with the support of farmers, stepping up pressure on the president, Aleksandar Vuฤiฤ‡. He said he d…

Serbiaโ€™s PM Vuฤeviฤ‡ steps down over mega student-led protests

โ€œIn order not to further raise tensions in society, I made this decision,โ€ says departing leader as pressure grows on President Aleksandar Vuฤiฤ‡.

Serbiaโ€™s PM resigns after student protests linked to government corruption โ€“ Europe live

Miloลก Vuฤeviฤ‡ steps down following wave of demonstrations sparked by the deaths of 15 people who were killed when a railway station roof collapsedSpeaking at a press conference in Belgrade, Vuฤeviฤ‡ defended his governmentโ€™s record, but admitted that Se…

Serbian students block Belgrade road junction to increase pressure on Vuฤiฤ‡

Farmers bring tractors in support of protest, in echo of fall of former president Slobodan Miloลกeviฤ‡Serbian students have staged a daylong blockage of a major traffic intersection in Belgrade with the support of farmers, stepping up pressure on the pre…

Serbia detains, expels 14 foreign citizens attending NGO forum

Serbia’s highest state officials, without providing evidence, claim in their statements that student blockades and protests are under the influence of Western intelligence services.
The post Serbia detains, expels 14 foreign citizens attending NGO foru…

Tusk rallies embassies to protect Poles against Trump

In todayโ€™s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Serbia offering to host Trump-Putin talks, Poland’s Tusk vowing to protect Poles from Trump’s crackdown on illegal migration, and so much more.ย 
The post Tusk rallies embassies to protect Poles ag…

Serbiaโ€™s Vuฤiฤ‡ under fire after driver rams student protest in Belgrade

The complainants claim that Vuฤiฤ‡ previously encouraged motorists to drive through crowds of protesting students.
The post Serbia’s Vuฤiฤ‡ under fire after driver rams student protest in Belgrade appeared first on Euractiv.

Ukraine tried to attack TurkStream infrastructure in Russia, Moscow says

TurkStream continues to supply Russian gas to Serbia and Hungary via Bulgaria.
The post Ukraine tried to attack TurkStream infrastructure in Russia, Moscow says appeared first on Euractiv.

Ukraine can join NATO โ€” if allies are willing to be bold

Right now, Russia knows all it needs to do to prevent a country from joining is to invade and partially occupy it โ€” and that needs to change.

Azerbaijan halts gas deliveries to Serbia, Bulgaria

Supplies were interrupted because of “an issue” at the Alpha platform at the offshore Shah Deniz gas field in the Caspian Sea.
The post Azerbaijan halts gas deliveries to Serbia, Bulgaria appeared first on Euractiv.

Serbia hit with double whammy on gas supply

New U.S. sanctions against Russia target Serbia’s main gas company, at the same time that Azerbaijan claims to not be able to deliver its supply.

US hits Russian oil with toughest sanctions yet in bid to give Ukraine, Trump leverage

The US Treasury imposed sanctions on Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas as well as 183 vessels that have shipped Russian oil, many of which are in the so-called ‘shadow fleet’.
The post US hits Russian oil with toughest sanctions yet in bid to give Ukrai…

Australia โ€˜poisoned meโ€™ in 2022, Novak Djokovic says

“In that hotel in Melbourne I was fed with some food that poisoned me,โ€ Serbian champ says about his infamous Covid detention.

Novak Djokovic says heโ€™s still traumatized from Australia deportation saga

The Serbian tennis champ was sent packing in 2022 for violating Australia’s pandemic rules.

Serbia charges 13 in railway station tragedy, critics allege cover-up

Belgrade government is trying to “throw dust in the eyes of the people,” former Novi Sad Mayor Boris Novakoviฤ‡ says.

Serbian court jails parents of teenager who killed 10 in school attack

Trial conducted solely against teenagerโ€™s parents as their son could not be criminally prosecuted due to his ageA Belgrade court has jailed the parents of a 13-year-old boy after he shot dead nine students and a security guard at an elementary school i…

Europeโ€™s slow but โ€˜inevitableโ€™ march to allow assisted dying

The U.K. is the latest country to move toward legalizing the controversial yet evermore popular practice.

Bosniaโ€™s Serb lawmakers halt EU accession efforts

The Republika Srpska assembly wants its representatives to boycott votes in joint state bodies until what it claims is a “politically motivated process” against its leader Milorad Dodik is ended.
The post Bosnia’s Serb lawmakers halt EU accessio…

Serbian students rally in Belgrade in latest protest over train station disaster

Hundreds march on state prosecutorโ€™s office to demand justice after 15 people killed when renovated roof collapsedHundreds of university students have rallied in Belgrade to protest against the policies of Serbiaโ€™s president, Aleksandar Vuฤiฤ‡, and his …

Kosovo bans ethnic-Serb party from election, drawing Western criticism

Serbian President Aleksandar Vuฤiฤ‡ accused Albanian PM Albin Kurti of attempting to “remove the Serbian List as the only political opponent”.
The post Kosovo bans ethnic-Serb party from election, drawing Western criticism appeared first on Euractiv.

Tens of thousands gather in anti-government protest in Belgrade

Students at universities in Belgrade, Kragujevac and Niลก have been protesting for weeks to demand justice and transparency following the Novi Sad train station roof collapse.
The post Tens of thousands gather in anti-government protest in Belgrade appe…

Thousands gather in Belgrade to protest against Serbiaโ€™s populist government

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Belgrade Sunday to protest against President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). The rally, organised by students and farmer unions, was part ofย a wider movement demanding accountabi…

Serbian schools to close early for winter break amid anti-corruption protests

Vuฤiฤ‡ government seeks to stop unrest over Novi Sad canopy collapse spreading to secondary education sectorSchools across Serbia will close for the winter holidays a week earlier than planned this year as the government of the nationalist president, Al…

Serbia: Anti-corruption movement gains ground after deadly train station accident

For the past month, an anti-corruption movement has been gaining traction in Serbia. It follows a tragic event: the collapse of the newly renovated Novi Sad train station on November 2, causing 15 deaths and two serious injuries. The accident has trig…

EU leaders to pledge closer ties with Western Balkans counterparts

“It’s clear that CFSP alignment is becoming more important,” a senior EU official said.
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Kosovo, Serbia reach agreement implementing search for war missing

Of the 6,065 cases of people who have gone missing following the 1998-99 war, 1,607 remain unresolved, according to the European Union’s diplomatic service.
The post Kosovo, Serbia reach agreement implementing search for war missing appeared first on E…

World War III is already underway. In Ukraine.

Three years in, Russiaโ€™s invasion has drawn in dozens of countries.

Serbia used Israeli firmโ€™s tech to enable spy campaign, Amnesty says

According to Amnesty, Serbia received phone-cracking devices as part of a broader package of assistance designed to help Serbia meet the requirements for EU accession.
The post Serbia used Israeli firmโ€™s tech to enable spy campaign, Amnesty says appea…

Serbian authorities using spyware to illegally surveil activists, report finds

Advanced mobile forensics products being used to illegally extract data from mobile devices, Amnesty findsPolice and intelligence services in Serbia are using advanced mobile forensics products and previously unknown spyware to illegally surveil journa…

Trump taps top ally Richard Grenell as envoy for โ€˜special missionsโ€™

Speculation swirled for weeks as Grenell was seemingly snubbed for the role of secretary of State.

US set to sanction Serbiaโ€™s main oil company over Russian ownership, Vuฤiฤ‡ says

Britain and the EU would likely follow Washington in introducing sanctions against NIS, Serbian president says in TV interview.

Residents in rural Serbia rally against lithium mining project

Will Serbia host what is presented as Europe’s largest lithium (and boron) extraction project? The president and government are doing everything they can to ensure Rio Tinto’s investment goes ahead, even if it means discrediting or smearing opponents….

Serbia seeks to reduce Russian ownership in oil giant to avoid sanctions

Russia’s Gazprom Neft and Gazprom own respectively 50% and 6.15% of Serbian oil company NIS.
The post Serbia seeks to reduce Russian ownership in oil giant to avoid sanctions appeared first on Euractiv.

Brexit Britain looks to Europe to help fix its railways

With money tight, ministers are looking for novel ways to finance new trains. The solution might lie across the channel.

Balkan journalists battle deluge of SLAPP lawsuits

SLAPPs — or strategic lawsuits against public participation — are being increasingly used by the rich and powerful to bully and silence journalists, activists and NGOs.
The post Balkan journalists battle deluge of SLAPP lawsuits appeared first on Eur…

In the case of Trump loyalist Ric Grenell, loyalty did not trump all

He and his allies mounted an aggressive effort for the top diplomat role.

European countries give farmers more freedom to shoot wolves

The decision by Bern Convention members is a major win for the EU and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Accusations fly after blast hits key Kosovo water system

A detonation on a critical aqueduct comes after a series of smaller incidents in the tense Serb-majority north of the country.

Kosovo arrests eight linked to canal explosion as tensions with Serbia rise

Pristina labels incident โ€˜terrorist actโ€™ by neighbouring country, activating armed forces to prevent more attacksKosovoโ€™s interior minister, Xhelal Sveรงla, said on Saturday that police had arrested eight people after an explosion hit a canal that sends…

Kosovo blames Serbia for blast at key water canal as tensions escalate

Kosovo on Saturday worked to restore water and power supplies following an explosion at a canal critical to its energy infrastructure, which Pristina denounced as a “terrorist act” by Serbia. While Belgrade denied involvement and pointed fingers at Ko…

Explosion damages Kosovo power infrastructure, PM accuses Serbia of terrorism

In a sign of ethnic tensions between the two Balkan countries, Prime Minister Albin Kurti blamed Serbian criminal gangs without providing proof.

Bosnian Serb general Krstiฤ‡ says he โ€˜aided and abettedโ€™ Srebrenica genocide

Confession met with scepticism after other war criminals made similar statements to win early release from prisonA Bosnian Serb general jailed by the Hague war crimes tribunal for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre has confessed to having โ€œaided and abetted …

German lithium plant hopes to turbo-charge Europeโ€™s EV makers

Vulcan Energy says its new plant west of Frankfurt, now in its pilot phase, plans to soon produce lithium for batteries used by auto manufacturers including Volkswagen, Renault and Stellantis.

UK to sign new agreements on people smuggling with Western Balkan countries

The UK government says that almost 100,000 migrants from third countries transited through the Western Balkans last year, making it “a key route used by those who end up in the EU or UK illegally”.

Sewage sprayed on Serbian city hall as protests over station disaster turn violent โ€“ย video

Protests in Serbia turned violent as thousands of government opposition backers rallied in the north-western city of Novi Sad after a deadly roof collapse at a local railway station. The protesters broke windows, spray-painted buildings and sprayed sew…