About: Serbia
Serbia warns Kosovo against ‘undermining’ regional stability
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Sunday (11 November) accused Kosovo of "undermining regional cooperation and stability" by raising taxes on Serbian goods.
EU urges Kosovo to revoke import tax on Serbia, Bosnia goods
The European Union called on Kosovo on Wednesday (7 November) to revoke its decision to impose an import tax on goods coming from Serbia and Bosnia, a move that is likely to further sour relations between Pristina and Belgrade.
The ‘Orthodox Four’ aim at hosting FIFA world cup in 2030
Bulgaria will take part in a joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov announced on Friday (2 November), together with Serbia, Greece and Romania, a format dubbed by diplomats and journalists “the Orthodox Four”.
Filibustering – a regular occurrence in Serbia’s parliament
The work of Serbia's parliament reflects the general trend of the "capture" of state institutions by the ruling party, while filibustering and avoidance of public debates in parliament have become common practice, notes the latest civil society report on the Balkan country's progress on the rule of law. EURACTIV Serbia reports.
Multicultural school for Croats and Serbs in Vukovar fails to take off
The construction of a super-modern school in Vukovar, a town that symbolises suffering in Croatia's 1991-95 independence war, was meant to foster inclusiveness and reconciliation in a place that remains divided along Croat-Serb ethnic lines. But the project never took off and Norway is now demanding its funding back. EURACTIV Croatia reports.
China in the Balkans: Motivations behind growing influence
Beijing’s influence in the Balkans continues to grow, but we should not compare it with Russia. Chinese influence differs in both motives and tools used for its spreading, writes Matej Šimalčík.
Kosovo moves to create an army, Serbia warns of ‘threat to peace’
Kosovo on Thursday (18 October) took the first steps towards creating its own army, ten years after it declared independence, despite fierce opposition from the ethnic Serb minority and Serbia itself which called the move "a threat to peace".
One-fifth of Serbs want to leave Serbia
Around one-fifth of Serbian citizens potentially want to emigrate in search of a better life and better-paying jobs, according to a new survey. Most of them are young people and almost all of them want to go West. EURACTIV Serbia reports.
Moscow slams Macedonia’s ‘forced’ name change vote
Moscow on Monday (1 October) said low turnout in the referendum on Macedonia's name change renders it invalid, adding that lack of interest means that the population has boycotted a decision "forced" upon it.
Kosovo president visits disputed area after similar visit by Serbian leader
Kosovo's president made a rare visit on Saturday (29 September) to a disputed, mainly ethnic Serb area in the north of the country, angering Belgrade just three weeks after Serbia's president infuriated Pristina by visiting the same area.
From Budapest to the Balkans, via Brussels
Macedonia is still going through a painful reconstruction as a society. But if we really believe that the Western Balkans region belongs in Europe, it is time to insist on respecting European values, writes Ivana Jordanovska.
Belgrade Gay Pride participants call for law on same-sex marriage
Belgrade held its eighth Pride Parade, under the slogan Say Yes, on Sunday (16 September). It passed without incident and, according to media estimates, with fewer police officers guarding the event than in previous years. EURACTIV Serbia reports.
For a peaceful border correction between Kosovo and Serbia
The peaceful border correction with Serbia is an opportunity for mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia that should not be missed, writes Hashim Thaçi.
Commission frowns at Serbian president’s praise of Milosevic
The European Commission made veiled criticism on Monday (10 September) against Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, whose comments at the weekend appeared to glorify the late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milošević, seen by many as the chief culprit for the wars in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
Serbia’s Vucic says long road ahead in talks with Kosovo
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić pledged to continue talks with Kosovo officials to resolve differences but warned it would take a long time to reach a broad deal with Pristina that could allow both nations to move towards EU membership. Expectations...
Kosovo-Serbia talks break down as tensions mount again
The latest round of EU-sponsored Kosovo-Serbia talks effectively collapsed on Friday (7 September) as Serbia's president refused to sit down with his Kosovo counterpart, citing a ban by Kosovar authorities on his planned visit to the former Serbian province as a reason to reassess all relations with Pristina.
Kosovo and Serbia need wide consensus to resolve conflict, expert says
The presidents of Kosovo and Serbia have floated the idea of a land swap to settle their disputes. The proposal, involving the predominantly Serb northern Kosovo and Preševo Valley in southern Serbia, has been welcomed by some and criticised by others for fear it might create further instability in the Balkans.
Kosovo-Serbia talks to resume, overshadowed by land swap rumours
An EU-mediated dialogue aimed at resolving the Kosovo-Serbia issue will resume in Brussels on Friday (7 September) but the latest speculation that the conflict might eventually be resolved by swapping territory has turned everything upside down. EURACTIV Serbia reports.
EU ministers wary of Kosovo-Serbia border changes
EU ministers voiced concern on Friday (31 August) about talk of potential border changes between Kosovo and Serbia, warning that it could destabilise the Balkans, a region still simmering with ethnic tensions.
Kosovan and Serbian Peace: The EU’s next big foreign policy win?
Reaching a deal for the full normalisation of the relations between Belgrade and Pristina is of crucial importance also for the EU, although time is running out, writes Bekim Çollaku.
Austrian president warns against ‘small-state mentality’
With the informal meeting of the defense minister and then the foreign minister in the last week of August, the Austrian Presidency enters crunch mode. EURACTIV Germany reports from Vienna.
EU Commission encourages border ‘corrections’ to settle Kosovo-Serbia relations
Brussels should accept an agreement between Serbs and ethnic Albanians to settle their long-standing dispute over Kosovo, a top EU official said on Sunday (26 August), seeking to dispel fears that any redrawing of Balkan borders might reignite feuds in the volatile region.
Sudden spike in number of measles cases in Europe, highest death toll in Serbia
The first six months of 2018 have seen a sudden increase in the number of measles cases in Europe with at least 37 deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned.