Follow the Money: Why the EU, Not China, Matters Most to Serbia and Georgia
The leaders of Serbia and Georgia like to talk up the economic importance of partnership with China, but it’s the EU that counts, whether they like it or not. KAYNAK:…
Democracy Digest: Slovak PM Denies Describing Trump as ‘Dangerous’
Elsewhere, Hungarian minister denies his remark about Roma cleaning toilets was racist; more objects enter Polish airspace from direction of Belarus; and Czech president leaks foreign minister’s ‘blackmail’ texts. KAYNAK:…
US Company Carlyle May Buy Sanctioned Lukoil’s Balkan Assets
Likely sale of the foreign assets of the US-sanctioned Russian oil giant will have important consequences for fuel supplies in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
US-Backed Gas Pipeline Would be a Win-Win for Bosnia
The proposed Southern Gas Interconnection pipeline to Croatia would reduce Bosnia’s energy dependence on Russia – and the Federation entity’s vulnerability to its Serb counterpart’s machinations. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Letter from Washington: Trump Scores Big on Small Balkan Playing Field
Keen to show loyalty to the US president, some Balkan states signed up to Donald Trump’s contentious ‘Board of Peace’. Others, meanwhile, are looking to the US for new business…
Democracy Digest: Orban Signs Up to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’, Nawrocki prevaricates
Elsewhere, Slovak PM also gets sit-down with US president; Czech president and new government differ over military aircraft sale to Ukraine; and Tisza recruits ‘Kapitany’ of industry as its chief…
‘Worrying’ Loss of Pristine Rivers in Balkans Highlighted by Study
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Hungarian MOL to Buy Majority in Serbian Oil Industry from Gazprom Neft
Months after US sanctions took effect on Serbian Oil Industry, NIS, as one of Gazprom Neft’s subsidiaries, Hungary’s MOL says it will buy the majority of shares in the company.…
Democracy Digest: Slovaks Bridle at ‘Hungarians Living in Felvidek’ Phrase
Elsewhere, Hungary sets general election date for April 12; new Czech government faces interminable vote of confidence; and Poland successfully repels largest cyberattack on energy infrastructure in years. KAYNAK: Balkan…
Democracy Digest: Fico Criticizes US While Orban Dissembles
Elsewhere, Mercedes to move entire A-Klasse manufacturing from Germany to Hungary; Slovak far-right agitator Bombic to face trial; Poland gets serious about prosecuting hate crimes; and ammo initiative for Ukraine…