Democracy in Central, Southeast Europe Is Still in Decline: Report
Liberties’ 2026 report identified Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia as five ‘Dismantlers’ in the EU that are actively undermining the rule of law. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Week in Review: Alignment, Collision and Scandal
From a political spying scandal to MAGA alignment and a brewing collision with the law, selection of BIRN Premium stories this week makes for an exciting read. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Slovenia’s Governing Liberals Narrowly Defeat Right-Wing Challenge at Polls
A narrow win for Robert Golob's Freedom Movement leaves Slovenia facing complex coalition negotiations - with populist opposition leader Janez Jansa calling for new elections to ensure a stable government.…
Israel-Linked Spy Scandal Hits at Slovenian Right’s Chances at Polls
Right-wing populist Janez Jansa had the ‘upper hand’ heading into Sunday’s election in Slovenia, but then he admitted meeting a representative of the private Israeli spy firm Black Cube. KAYNAK:…
Anti-Democratic Trends Mean 65% of CEE Citizens Now Live in Electoral Autocracies: Report
Among the new ‘autocratizers’ are Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia, says report compiled by V-Dem Institute in Sweden. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Rebel With a Cause: Kosovo Ex-Prisoner’s Pursuit of Justice Deserves Acclaim
Forty-five years after his first arrest at a student protest, former political prisoner Xun Cetta’s long struggle against inequity casts a harsh light on an opportunistic post-war political class in…
Slovenian Campaigner Hails ‘Historic’ Advance for Abortion Rights in Europe
Nika Kovac, head of a campaign for safe and free abortion in the EU, tells BIRN that European Commission approval for funding pregnancy terminations abroad for women who can’t access…
BIRN Publishes 2026 Trends Report – ‘Populism in Central Europe: A Reprise’
This year's report examines five trends that will be driven by the populist revival in the region. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
We Were Always Here: The Balkans Should Honour Its LGBTQ+ Pioneers
Balkan LGBTQ+ people, both in the region and in the diaspora, are often told that their identities are incompatible. It’s time to hear a different story – and learn more…
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…