North Macedonia
Skopje residents rise up against landfill fires and toxic pollution
Combination of heat and toxic smoke from multiple fires has left residents trapped inside their homes.
North Macedonia’s GDP growth accelerates to 3.4% in 2Q25
Data point to a steady recovery of the Macedonian economy, supported by construction and services, but tempered by a widening trade gap.
North Macedonia rocked by new wiretapping scandal
Hristijan Mickoski says North Macedonia country is facing a new scandal involving illegal wiretapping and massive abuse of the surveillance system. A similar scandal sparked the Colourful Revolution of 2016.
Serbia records lowest support for EU in Western Balkans, survey shows
Just 33% of respondents in Serbia backed EU membership, compared with 91% in Albania and 69% in North Macedonia.
Disastrous harvest gives bitter taste of food inflation in North Macedonia
Cash-strapped shoppers tell bne IntelliNews’ Skopje correspondent that preparing ajvar and other traditional winter preserves is becoming prohibitively expensive.
Western Balkans gradually gaining on EU economies, but Ukraine falls further behind
Bruegel study finds all candidates and potential candidates except Ukraine have converged somewhat towards the EU average in GDP per capita terms.
North Macedonia ranks highest in emerging Europe for greenfield FDI performance
With under 2mn inhabitants and 2024 GDP of $16bn, the country punches well above its weight as an FDI destination, finds fDi Intelligence.
€1bn EU energy crisis aid in Western Balkans largely untraceable, watchdog says
CEE Bankwatch research reveals only €163.1mn of €1bn spent could be clearly linked to advancing the Green Agenda.
EU risks fuelling democratic decline in Balkans as reform credibility erodes, report warns
The European Union is prioritising short-term stability over genuine democratic reform, says a report from the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group.
European Parliament calls for reforms and action on foreign interference in Western Balkans
MEPs warn that democratic backsliding and geopolitical vulnerabilities could stall progress across the region.
Global lenders line up to finance North Macedonia’s €1.9bn high-speed rail project
16 international financial institutions and commercial banks have expressed interest in financing the ambitious Corridor X project.
Western Balkan leaders meet in Skopje to advance EU Growth Plan
Growth Plan aims to fast-track the Western Balkans' convergence with the EU through deeper market access, pre-accession funding and regional cooperation.
Emerging Europe growth resilient despite global risks, wiiw says
Economies across Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe are set to maintain solid growth in 2025 and 2026 but face downside risks from Middle East tensions, the war in Ukraine and US trade policy.
North Macedonia's streaming platform Gley launches IPO on Skopje stock exchange
Funds raised to be directed toward original content production and expanding Gley’s catalogue of children’s and international programming.
Global uncertainty causes FDI to plummet in Emerging Europe
wiiw research blames crisis in German industry and the uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump’s second term as US president for sharp slowdown in FDI.
Proposed defence spending hike to 5% of GDP exposes divisions among Nato members
Russia hawks in Poland and the Baltic States are firmly behind plan to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, while other members question new target.
Bosnia’s coal plants the biggest polluters in Western Balkans, CEE Bankwatch survey shows
Across the region, six units exceeded their individual ceilings for sulphur dioxide emissions by more than ten times last year, according to a survey by environmental NGO CEE Bankwatch.
Russia provoking conflict in Western Balkans as leverage against West, think-tank says
Instability in the Western Balkans "presents Russia with a win-win scenario", says FPRI analysis.