Politics

Maja Sever, the first woman to lead the EFJ

01/07/2022 -  Giovanni Vale Zagreb

Quickly resolving the economic issue relating to journalists, fighting harder against SLAPPs or gag complaints, using the rule of law to improve media conditions. These are the keywords of Maja Sever, the first woman to lead the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

North Macedonia and emigration, an eternal issue

29/06/2022 -  Aleksandar Samardjiev Tetovo

As Skopie's European prospects remain blocked, many Macedonians continue to seek better living conditions abroad, and the country loses its best forces

North Macedonia, a wave of strikes

13/06/2022 -  Aleksandar Samardjiev Tetovo

The adjustment of the minimum wage in the private sector – wanted by the Skopje government and subsidised by the state – has led to strikes and protests in the public sector. The discontent is driven by high inflation. Some experts claim the risk of negative repercussions on the state budget

Turkey, even music must be silenced

10/06/2022 -  Kenan Behzat Sharpe Istanbul

In recent weeks, Turkey has seen numerous cancellations of concerts and music festivals by authorities linked to President Erdogan's AKP: political repression against opposition and minorities now also affects music

Armenia: zero tolerance on smoking

21/04/2022 -  Armine Avetisian

Through recent measures, the Armenian government has been trying to tackle tobacco addiction. No more cigarettes in bars and restaurants

North Macedonia, the census does not quell the controversy

12/04/2022 -  Aleksandar Samardjiev Tetovo

After twenty years of waiting, North Macedonia has finally managed to complete the population census. The controversies that had slowed down the process, however, have not subsided even after the presentation of the results

Georgia applies to join the EU

03/03/2022 -  Marilisa Lorusso

The aggression against Ukraine has generated a series of so far unforeseeable consequences, particularly in the countries of the former Soviet bloc. Georgia is experiencing an acceleration of processes that were underway but were not on the agenda, including the request for EU candidacy

Donbass, the veil of hypocrisy has been lifted

26/02/2022 -  Matteo Zola

The aggression of the Putin regime on Ukraine has also removed the veil on the hypocrisy that has reigned in the Donbass from 2014 to today. What Moscow presents as a genocide conducted against the Russian-speaking population is nothing more than a mafia black hole

Bosnia and Herzegovina, between the anvil and the hammer: an analysis of the programs of the major ethno-national parties

07/02/2022 -  Dražen Barbarić

By comparing the programs of the major political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina it is possibile not only to explain the current paralyses of the country's political system, but also to guess what political and media tools the main political actors might use trying to change the current institutional structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Slovenia: Robert Golob vs. Janez Jansa

10/02/2022 -  Stefano Lusa

Robert Golob will be Janez Jansa's main antagonist in the political elections of next 24 April. He is the only one who seems to have the charisma to stand up to the master and father of the centre-right and his plans to bring Slovenia towards Hungary

North Macedonia: new premier, new European perspectives?

26/01/2022 -  Aleksandar Samardjiev Tetovo

The local elections of last October changed the political landscape in North Macedonia, and in January Social Democrat Dimitar Kovacevski became the new Prime Minister. The declared goal of the new government is to overcome Bulgaria's veto and start EU accession negotiations

Albania-Turkey: Erdogan's visit boosts the bilateral relationship

25/01/2022 -  Gjergji Kajana

On 17 January, Turkish President Erdogan visited Albania. The two countries enjoy a close relationship but the delayed common process toward EU membership and human rights concerns on Gulen’s movement repression cast a shadow on it

Bosnia and Herzegovina: how to organise territorial representation and effectiveness?

14/01/2022 -  Bojan Vlaški

How can the federal system of Bosnia and Herzegovina become more effective? Some proposals by Bojan Vlaški, professor of Law at Banja Luka University. A contribution to the debate we are gathering on the BiH reforms

Is participation a possible way out of the constitutional conundrum?

16/12/2021 -  Francesco Palermo

It is now clear that constitutional reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina is as necessary as it is difficult. A possible solution could come from participatory constitutionalism

Slovenia, the European Parliament and the rule of law

16/12/2021 -  Juan Torregrosa Rodriguez

On 17 November, the results of a monitoring mission on the rule of law carried out in Slovenia in October by some members of the European Parliament were presented

Greece looks to the US for security and investments

09/12/2021 -  Mary Drosopoulos Thessaloniki

Relations between Greece and the US – historically strong, but not always rosy – are strengthening at an economic and strategic level, as testified by the renewal of a mutual defense pact, with eyes on the threatening role of Erdogan's Turkey

Serbia, new environmental protests

02/12/2021 -  Vukašin Obradović Belgrade

In Serbia, the environmental issue is becoming an increasingly important social and political matter. Protests against some controversial laws are bringing numerous citizens and environmental associations to demonstrate in various cities

Serbia: economic development at the expense of workers

30/11/2021 -  Vukašin Obradović Belgrade

The case of the Chinese company Linglong in Zrenjanin exposes the terrible exploitation of workers and the inhumane conditions in which they live. The government tries to downplay the scandal, but this is not the first time that foreign investment has been accompanied by the exploitation of workers

Breaking (Into) Fortress Europe: Are Bottom-Up Migration Policies Still Possible?

19/11/2021 -  Federico Alagna

The EU approach to migration is based on strongly government-centred, restrictive policies, impervious to the external motions of grassroots actors. Yet, there might still be room for a systemic change from below

Local elections in North Macedonia, the impact on the central government

05/11/2021 -  Aleksandar Samardjiev Tetovo

North Macedonia's runoff elections of October 31 were seen as a test for the ruling social democrats after the centre-right opposition won more municipalities in the first round of voting two weeks ago. Faced with the negative outcome, SDSM President and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has resigned from both positions

MEPs wrote to Borrell and Schmidt, express concerns over tensions in BiH

25/10/2021

A group of European Parliament members wrote to High Representative Josep Borrell and High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt, expressing concern over the latest escalation of tensions in BiH

Women and politics in Kosovo: were the local elections a missed opportunity?

19/10/2021 -  Arta Berisha Prishtina

In recent years, the role of women in Kosovar politics has become more visible and important, as demonstrated by the election of Vjosa Osmani as president. The local elections, however, marked an uncertain step on the road to equal opportunities

Independent lists: will they bring more democracy to North Macedonia?

29/09/2021 -  Aleksandar Samardjiev Tetovo

On October 17, North Macedonia will go to the polls for the local elections. Many independent lists could upset the plans of the main parties and bring a breath of fresh air to the new municipal councils

Census in Croatia: certification of the population decline

13/09/2021 -  Giovanni Vale Zagreb

"Croatia is aging, this is the message that the census will give us. But this will not alarm the government which, like a firefighter, is just going to put out the fires". On the day of the start of the general census in Croatia, we interviewed demographer Marin Strmota

Serbia: the government's hypocritical dialogue with civil society

14/09/2021 -  Vukašin Obradović

"It makes no sense for civil society to spend time helping the state devise a strategy that will never be applied. In a country where the rule of law does not exist, there is no point in adopting new laws and strategies". A meeting with Maja Stojanovic, director of Građanske inicijative

Serbia: Vucic and the pro-government media against Twitter

30/08/2021 -  Vukašin Obradović Belgrade

Twitter recently flagged some Serbian outlets as "government-affiliated news media". Instead of opening a debate on the decision, the government and President Vucic have embarked on yet another smear campaign against non-aligned media

Montenegro, a justice free country

24/08/2021 -  Željko Pantelić

Interview with Milka Tadic Mijovic, one of Montenegro's leading journalists and president of the Center for Investigative Journalism, who has always been at the forefront of the fight for a better country and for the defence of freedom of expression

Montenegro, time for action

19/07/2021 -  Željko Pantelić

After a long experience in the NGO sector, Jovana Marovic decided to engage in politics with the URA movement. In this interview, she tells us about her choice and her vision on Montenegro's European integration path

Slovenia: water has won

14/07/2021 -  Marco Ranocchiari

On Sunday 11 July, with an overwhelming majority — and a high turnout — the Slovenes rejected the new law on water, which would have made it easier to build along the banks of rivers and on the coasts. A heavy defeat for right-wing prime minister Janez Jansa

North Macedonia: DUI, from ethnic party to ecological movement?

07/07/2021 -  Aleksandar Samardjiev Tetovo

Born as a political expression of the armed struggle of the Albanians in North Macedonia, DUI today surprisingly tries to reposition itself as a green movement. A turning point that, however, puzzles many