Governments there have often taken ‘selective and arbitrary approaches to applying restrictions’ and sometimes used ‘these measures to silence their critics and opponents.’
The article refers to the latest policy brief on the covid-19 measures in the Western Balkans
I think the main paradox is that Mr. Lavrov is advocating for the defense of Dayton, and at the same time, as he states, undermines the spirit of that agreement by meeting with Dodik
Majda Ruge comments on Russia’s talks with the three-member presidency in Bosnia-Herzegovina
This [Bulgaria’s objection to opening accession talks with North Macedonia] puts the European project at risk here in an unprecedented way
Vessela Tcherneva quoted in a Financial Times article on the latest political developments in Bulgaria
Fixing Trump’s mistakes in the region will be easy. Avoiding Obama’s will be much harder
Given all the foreign policy challenges the new U.S. administration will face, the Western Balkans will not likely rank as top priority, argues Majda Ruge in her article
This is likely to lead to a long-term freeze on the enlargement process in reference not only to North Macedonia but also to Albania
Vessela Tcherneva comments on the events surrounding Bulgaria’s veto over the launch of EU accession talks with North Macedonia
Mr Borisov is buying the threat that the nationalists may bring down the government just months before its mandate ends, something he has been avoiding for the last six months
Vessela Tcherneva quoted in a Financial Times article on Bulgaria’s move to block the progress of North Macedonia towards EU membership
The current election system in Bosnia and Herzegovina favors ethno-nationalist parties, and that is why any change will have to be instituted top-down
Majda Ruge’s analysis on electoral fraud in Bosnia is translated by the Bosnian newspaper Dnevni avaz
There wasn’t really any truly strategic approach or planning on solving the Serbia-Kosovo dispute, rather it was a kind of a PR event that was very important for the campaign
Majda Ruge comments on the Serbia-Kosovo deal signed in the White House.
Each side left the meeting armed with their own narrative for domestic consumption
The real challenge in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, as elsewhere in the region, lays in the implementation of pledges, not in getting the leaders to sign off on them
The sloppy White House package does little to advance dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo and comes at a high price, writes Majda Ruge in her op-ed