PL | EN

Balkans between East and West: Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo

The Open Balkans initiative was launched by Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia. It provides for easier movement of people and goods between Member States, more affordable conditions for investment, residence, recognition of professional qualifications and the pursuit of improved bilateral relations. However, according to a study by The Balkan Forum, this initiative may have negative consequences, both symbolically and in terms of real cooperation. Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are not currently part of the ‘Open Balkans’ and remain sceptical about it, fearing that the idea will jeopardise their path to the European Union. The initiative may therefore further deepen regional divisions.

According to President Aleksandar Vučić, the East and West are engaged in a proxy war in Serbia, while the Serbian authorities are trying to stay oriented on the EU accession while maintaining good relations with Russia and China.

In Montenegro, following a vote of no confidence, the government of Prime Minister Dritan Abazović collapsed after three and a half months in office. In February this year, the same happened to the previous government, composed mainly of pro-Serbian and pro-Russian parties, while President Milo Đukanović is criticised for corruption, associations with organised crime and attacks on independent journalists. According to Gëzim Krasniqi, a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, this is evidence of the country’s political instability, where “one of the main factors is the growing gap between pro-EU and pro-NATO parties and those that support stronger ties with Serbia and Russia”.

Read also
Women’s rights: France and positive changes in the USA
Women’s rights: France and positive changes in the USA
After France became the only country to guarantee the right to abortion in its constitution explicitly, other European countries are examining their abortion laws. In Italy, a 1978 law allows medical personnel to refuse to perform an abortion on moral grounds, which in practice often significantly limits access to the procedure and forces women to […]
Help in hopeless situations: football in the Gaza Strip and Nigerian courts
Help in hopeless situations: football in the Gaza Strip and Nigerian courts
The creators of the Nigerian app Gavel use technology and a network of volunteers to enable people to access pro bono legal services and give them a chance in the face of the country’s dysfunctional and corrupt justice system. In Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2022, Nigeria ranked 150th out of 180 countries, and […]
Ibogaine, counting butterflies, menopause and depressive disorders
Ibogaine, counting butterflies, menopause and depressive disorders
Scientists studying ibogaine, a psychedelic substance, report its possible therapeutic potential in the treatment of addictions and post-traumatic stress disorder. In the small studies conducted so far, where opioid addicts were given ibogaine, from ⅓ to ⅔ of people from the study group were cured. However, the psychedelic can cause fatal heart rhythm disturbances, making […]
Jellyfish protein in forensics and DNA extraction after fires
Jellyfish protein in forensics and DNA extraction after fires
Scientists are studying brain injuries caused by domestic violence. Approx. ⅓ of women report having experienced severe physical violence from a partner, and most of them have suffered at least one traumatic brain injury (TBI). Symptoms often resemble those seen in athletes or military personnel. However, the brains of domestic violence victims were more likely […]
The European food crisis and controversial airdrops in the Gaza Strip
The European food crisis and controversial airdrops in the Gaza Strip
European officials, food safety experts, and industry representatives recently gathered in Brussels to discuss potential solutions to a looming food crisis in Europe. The pandemic has created several challenges, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, disruptions to shipping routes and supply chains, and unpredictable and extreme weather conditions. Sadly, in 2022, weather and climatic events in […]
Previous issues