About: Serbia
Putin to receive a rock star welcome in Belgrade
With T-shirts, mugs and murals bearing his face, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to receive a rock star welcome on Thursday (17 January) when he lands in Serbia, Moscow's key ally on the edge of Europe.
Street rallies for and against government expected in Serbia this week
Serbian citizens are set to rally on the streets almost daily in the coming week, both those unhappy with the state of affairs in the Balkan country and those who want to show support for visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
EU warns Serbia and Kosovo over flare up in tensions
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini on Tuesday (18 December) issued a stern warning to Serbia and Kosovo to put aside recent bickering amid a major flare-up in tensions between Belgrade and Pristina.
Thousands protest against Serbian President Vucic
Thousands of demonstrators defied heavy snow Saturday (15 December) in Belgrade to protest what they say is a crackdown by the government of President Aleksandar Vučić on opposition parties and the media.
Kosovo asserts independence with vote to build an army
Kosovo lawmakers vote Friday (14 December) on whether to give the small Balkan country its own army, a US-backed symbolic show of independence that has inflamed tensions with former wartime foe Serbia.
EU’s Balkan enlargement policy must now be guided by geopolitics
While the EU has played for time, delaying the EU enlargement process largely because of its own problems, the geopolitical context has changed, writes Vladimir Krulj.
Kosovo says to maintain its tariffs on Serbia despite EU pressure
Kosovo will keep its 100% tariffs on Serbian goods until Belgrade recognizes Pristina, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on Monday (4 December), defying calls by the European Union and United States for the tariffs to be abolished.
Kosovo Serbs protest Pristina’s tariff
Several thousand Kosovo Serbs protested in northern Kosovo on Tuesday (27 November) against Pristina's massive customs tariff on Serbian goods, a retaliatory measure announced last week that has spiked tensions and curtailed trade between the neighbours.
Kosovo’s trade war with Serbia prompts Tirana to push for Albanian unification
A joint session of the governments of Kosovo and Albania has raised the spectrum of Greater Albania, a nationalistic project rejected by the EU, the US and the wider international community. Albania on Monday (26 November) lent support to Kosovo’s 100%...
Kosovo hits Serbia, Bosnia with 100% customs fees after Interpol snub
Kosovo on Wednesday (21 November) raised customs tariffs on Serbian and Bosnian goods from 10 to 100% after Serbia blocked its former province from joining Interpol, the international police organisation.
Serbia scores victory as Interpol rejects Kosovo membership
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said on Tuesday (20 November) that the rejection of Kosovo's Interpol membership application was a success of Serbia - "a small, defiant and proud country". EURACTIV Serbia reports.
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.