Balkans

Bulgaria rejected accusations that its border guards shot a Syrian refugee in October, according to Zaman al-Wasl. Bulgaria rejected accusations that its border guards shot a Syrian refugee in October after a video released Monday showed a man being fired at on the European country’s border with Turkey. The footage …

Kosovo Authorities reached deal with Belgrade over license plates, ending nearly two-year dispute that had fuelled worrying rise in tensions. Pristina and Belgrade 23 Nov struck European Union (EU)-brokered deal to end license plate dispute amid growing concerns of possible violence. According to EU High Representative Josep Borrell, “Serbia will …

As Budapest actively implements its own “Look to the East” policy, Tehran will find a potentially useful partner in Europe. Upon signing the protocol of the third session of the joint commission for economic cooperation between Iran and Hungary on 16 November, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó expressed support for …

Ever-closer cooperation with Baku has the potential to relieve the Balkan states’ worryingly high levels of energy dependence on Moscow. Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, visited two Balkan countries one week apart in November this year. During the first trip, to Albania, it was decided to establish an Azerbaijani diplomatic mission. …

Thousands of migrants are trapped in Slovakia as the Czechs prevent them from crossing into their territory, while Hungary refuses to take back those that crossed from there into Slovakia. The government is struggling to come up with a solution. On the balcony of one of several blocks of flats …

Заедно можем повече, отколкото поотделно Добрата новина в лошата е, че заедно не ни пуснаха в Шенген с Румъния. Ако само България бе останала нищо чудно да ни бяха изхвърлили изобщо от ЕС. И без това ни редят в нещо като Б група, но ако бяхме само ние щеше да …

Kroatien soll zum Schengen-Raum dazugehören, Rumänien und Bulgarien aber nicht. Wären Menschenrechte das Kriterium, dann sähe es auch für Kroatien düster aus. Die Freizügigkeit ist eine der wichtigsten Errungenschaften der Europäischen Union (EU). Wer will, dass Europa enger zusammenwächst, kann es deswegen nur begrüßen, wenn der Schengen-Raum erweitert wird, in …

Witnesses told the Hague Tribunal that the notorious Scorpions unit was controlled by the Serbian Interior Ministry during the Yugoslav wars. Can an in-depth analysis of the court’s archives establish the truth? Material in the archives of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, ICTY indicates that the Scorpions …

Mevlut Cavusoglu has stepped up rhetoric over Aegean islands that Ankara says should be free of Greek arms. Turkey’s feud with neighbor and fellow NATO member Greece resurfaced Tuesday as Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu threatened to “do whatever is necessary” unless Athens reverses the militarization of its islands off the …

Honorary consuls are supposed to foster cooperation between two countries. In several cases involving Albania, they have dabbled in crime too. On February 27, 2013, the then Sheraton hotel in Tirana was illuminated in the colours of the Mexican and Albanian flags. Inside, a band played mariachi music, women wore …