Serbia
EU decision to ban Russian gas transit raises alarm in Serbia
Belgrade warned that the EU's decision to halt imports and transit of Russian natural gas from 2026 poses a serious threat to its energy security, with senior politicians calling the move "catastrophic".
EU mulls partial membership plan to ease enlargement and bypass veto risks
Move is aimed at moving forward with enlargement and overcoming resistance from EU members such as Hungary, but reaching consensus to be a challenge.
Thousands rally in Tirana demanding justice for former KLA leaders on trial in The Hague
Albanian PM Edi Rama called the protest, urging all Albanians to unite behind what he described as a “national cause” — defending the honour and legacy of Kosovo’s wartime leaders.
US warns Serbian banks over sanctions breach involving NIS
US sanctions on NIS prohibit transactions with the Serbian oil company involving US-linked financial instruments, including payments using Visa, Mastercard and other foreign-issued cards.
The EU needs to change to stay geopolitically relevant
Leading EU figures are pushing for the unanimity rule used to make important decisions to be dropped to enable faster enlargement — one of the bloc’s main tools for geopolitical influence.
US sanctions on Serbian oil company NIS take effect
Sanctions imposed by the United States on Serbia’s sole oil refiner, NIS, took effect on October 9, ending months of postponements and raising fears of fuel shortages and wider economic disruption.
EU tariffs to hit Serbian steel industry
President Aleksandar Vucic warns EU steel tariffs will hit the Smederevo ironworks, owned by China’s Hbis Group, and could weaken Serbia’s attractiveness for foreign investment.
World Bank projects growth upturn for Western Balkans from 2027
But region needs to focus on job creation and reforms to catch up with average EU living standards within the next 40 years.
Austria and Slovenia advocate qualified majority voting to unblock EU enlargement
Dropping unanimity requirement could accelerate the accession process for Ukraine, Moldova and potentially Western Balkans, but faces opposition from within the EU.
Serbian president threatens to arrest state employees over cyber attacks
President Aleksandar Vucic issues warning after 2mn cyber attacks recorded in August alone.
Rifts on show at EU-Western Balkan summit in Albania
Differences apparent over EU reform as well as friction between Serbia and Kosovo.
Serbia reaffirms EU commitment as accession talks stall over foreign policy
Officials in Belgrade acknowledged that accession talks have slowed amid pressure on the country to align with the EU's Russia sanctions.
Telekom Srbija eyes US Exim Bank financing for 5G rollout
Serbia is among the last countries in Central and Eastern Europe to allocate 5G spectrum, reflecting policy delays that have slowed the adoption of advanced digital services, cloud computing and Industry 4.0 technologies.
Serbia arrests two suspected trainers of Moldovan election disrupters
Pair arrested on suspicion of training Moldovan and Romanian citizens to carry out unrest during Moldova’s September 28 general election.
EU’s influence declines in its neighbourhood as China and Russia gain ground
Chinese presence growing in Western Balkans, while Russia makes gains in Turkey, shows new index developed by wiiw, Bertelsmann Stiftung and ECIPE.
EBRD says geopolitics, tariffs and China competition weigh on Emerging Europe growth
Development bank downgrades 2025 forecasts for Central and Eastern Europe citing weak external demand, rising debt and the impact of US tariffs.
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Serbian nationalists hold torchlight vigils to mark Banjska attack
Serbian nationalists staged torchlight processions in Belgrade and Novi Sad to mark the second anniversary of a deadly armed clash in the village of Banjska in northern Kosovo.
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Serbia to sign new gas supply deal with Russia in October
Serbia, which imported about 3bn cubic metres of Russian gas in 2024, remains among the most energy-dependent countries in Europe.
Serbia stages one of its largest military parades in decades
Fighter jets roared over the capital in a spectacle designed to showcase the power of the Serbian Armed Forces at a time of political tensions at home and increasing instability across the Western Balkans.
Serbia in talks with Russia on nuclear power plant construction
Talks follow Serbia’s November 2024 decision to lift a historic ban on nuclear power, imposed by its predecessor state Yugoslavia in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster.