Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 2, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
North Macedonia ‘Risks Decriminalising Common Forms of Graft’
Proposed changes to North Macedonia’s Criminal Code will, if adopted, set back the fight against corruption, says Sabina Fakic of the Centre for Civil Communications. 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…
Truckers Across Western Balkans Block Borders Over New EU Travel Rules
Freight operators from Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and North Macedonia block goods traffic at border crossings, protesting over new EU EES rules that limit their stay in the Schengen area to…
Environmental Crime in North Macedonia and Serbia Too Often Unpunished
A lack of training, capacity and legislative reform are conspiring to let perpetrators of environmental crime in Serbia and North Macedonia off the hook. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
North Macedonia in 2026: Govt’s Unchallenged Power Will Test its Maturity
The VMRO DPMNE-led government will dominate internal politics, with no elections scheduled this year – but progress abroad, with the stalled EU integration process, is far from certain. KAYNAK: Balkan…
‘Balkan Nostradamus’: Baba Vanga’s Visions Still Flood Albania’s Media Landscape
The Bulgarian mystic’s doomy predictions continue to grab headlines in Albania and elsewhere – even though many seem fabricated and sometimes appear to serve Russian geopolitical narratives. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Week in Review: Hopes, Dreams and Reality Checks in 2026
As the new year gets off to a cold start in the region, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories takes a look at the high expectations and sobering realities…
North Macedonia Village Carnival Mixes Ancient Tradition With Modern Satire
Part pagan ritual and part political satire, one of the most famous village festivals in the Balkans, the Vevcani carnival, goes ahead in North Macedonia on Tuesday and Wednesday. KAYNAK:…
Why Is Hungary Granting Political Asylum to Former Polish Ministers?
The Hungarian government is likely trying to curry favour with Poland’s PiS party by granting asylum to former government figures facing trial at home. But a change of government in…