Last week started with cabinet changes in the Macedonian government following the resignation of the minister of education. At the same time, reports from the country are showing 4% growth in industrial production, placing Macedonia ahead of some EU countries in terms of economic recovery.

Kosovo, Serbia, Germany On Wednesday a framework agreement on implementation of Belgrade-Pristina agreement was reached. It is seen as an important step in what is expected to be a delicate implementation process. It is understood that the framework agreement does not envisage immediate dissolution of local authorities in ethnically Serbian northern Kosovo, which was one […]

Legal and illegal businesses connecting Balkan countries Legal and political manoeuvring around the case of suspected Balkan drug kingpin Naser Kelmendi continued last week as the Bosnian court froze Kelmendi’s property in the country, including a well-known Sarajevo hotel. The decision is part of the preparations for the expected extradition of Kelmendi who was arrested […]

Baroness Ashton of the Balkans On Thursday Serbian PM Ivica Dačić and his Kosovo counterpart Hashim Thaci put their initials on the final text of the agreement on the special status of the Serb municipalities in Kosovo. Last week’s two additional rounds of talks mediated by the EU’s Catherine Ashton resulted in a compromise solution […]

Still no solutions to the regional disputes The previous week started with the Serbian government officially refusing the EU-brokered offer on the status of ethnic Serbs in Kosovo. Apparently, the offer was not presented in writing, but consisted of a set of principles read out to the Pristina and Belgrade delegations last Tuesday by Catherine […]

Serbia-Kosovo Talks Hit Stalemate The week has started less than promisingly for Belgrade and Pristina, as their representatives failed to reach agreement in the 8th round of EU mediated talks. Both delegations arrived back at their capitals without having agreed on the role and jurisdiction of the Association of Serbian Municipalities in Kosovo. After 12 […]