A combination of Armenia’s Soviet past, American technological innovation, and successful entrepreneurship among its diaspora offers the landlocked country a remarkable opportunity to not only become the major IT hub in the South Caucasus but also to become an emerging centre for innovation
Ambitious European projects support the protection of the sturgeon. However, without the support of the local community and compensation for fishermen, the goal of saving the the Danube's iconic fish remains elusive
With its labyrinth of canals, inland lakes, lagoons, remote islands, and windswept coastlines, the Danube Delta seems unchanging. Its precious habitats - a haven for Europe's main migratory bird species and the most iconic of fish, the sturgeon - and its lands where populations of diverse ethnicities, languages, and religions have found refuge, are exposed to accelerated environmental and social changes. Climate change and the disruption of upstream waterways are leading to erosion and silting of canals, while poaching, pollution, and a warming climate are threatening biodiversity.
Cohesion funds have also been incorporated into the new national and regional partnership plans envisaged in the proposal for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, which ties the disbursement of funding to the implementation of specific reforms. But the Commission is already being accused of centralizing management and marginalizing the regions
The project to rebuild the Port of Durrës is shrouded in controversy, and Albanian citizens could be the ones to pay the price. One of the most controversial proposals is financing part of the project by selling apartments before construction even begins
The chessboard on which the future of cruises in the Adriatic Sea is being played out has more and more squares. These are the ports that aspire to new destinations, for their own gain but also at their own risk. With its interregional projects, the European Union has been trying to help them since before the crisis
In Milan, cinemas have drastically decreased, going from 160 in the 1960s to the current 30. But despite the crisis, some independent theaters resist: like Cinema Arlecchino, reborn precisely when it seemed destined to disappear forever
After EU protests prompt a return to pre-war agricultural quotas on Ukrainian exports, agreement in principle is reached for a modernised multiannual trade, while Ukraine shifts toward higher value-added processing to boost competitiveness and mitigate quota impacts
Despite the aspirations of the Open Balkan initiative to foster regional cooperation and economic integration, women continue to encounter barriers in accessing meaningful employment opportunities
Decades after it was designed, Corridor 8 - an infrastructure axis created to connect the Black Sea with the Adriatic through Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Albania and promote economic development and regional cooperation - remains a puzzle to be solved
The EU Just Transition Fund supports the European regions most affected by the abandonment of fossil fuels, financing green innovation, job retraining and environmental clean-ups. Its implementation, however, is proceeding very slowly
According to the European Commission, cohesion policy should invest more in defence companies and infrastructure useful for military purposes. However, the decision is up to national and regional authorities
In both countries, the women who choose this field are few but highly determined. Their “cross-border” example shows that, despite deep-rooted stigmas, there is a new generation of girls with the courage to pursue the path they love, refusing to be limited by mental or geographical boundaries
Thanks to cohesion funds, the EU states of south-eastern Europe are implementing many projects to prevent or combat floods, fires and other risks related to the climate crisis. Namely, the commitment by Greece and Cyprus stands out
Many low- and mid-altitude ski resorts, due to global warming, remain without snow, but not necessarily without tourists. There are ways to reinvent the mountain: an ongoing cross-border project, BeyondSnow, helps some Alpine resorts understand how to do it
The cityscape of Bulgaria's capital has changed dramatically since 1989. But the building boom has paid scant regard to either regulations or the city's distinctive architectural heritage. And upcoming projects might well disfigure the city forever, as is shown on a 3D map created by Boyan Yurukov, an open-data activist
In the European Union there is enormous potential for the production of renewable energy, still only partially exploited. It is concentrated above all in rural regions: with adequate investments, it could create a precious opportunity for development
The government has signed a loan of one billion Euros from Hungary, with the aim of paying off old debts and relaunching the economy. For the opposition, however, the money actually comes from China, and risks deepening Beijing's influence on the country
The new Bulgarian government has relaunched a rapid entry into the Eurozone as a strategic priority for the country: Sofia meets the formal criteria, but for experts and public opinion the adoption of the Euro remains a controversial issue
Europe aims to obtain 42.5% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, but there is still a long way to go. While oil dominates the national energy mix, very different territorial realities are emerging, with rural areas ready for the ecological transition
Armenia has announced its intention to become a member of the European Union, however close relations with Moscow, particularly in the economic and energy spheres, complicate the possibility of Yerevan taking the European path
The Thessaloniki Metro, a project of decades in the making, is a story of adversity. Finally inaugurated in 2024 after a long and often turbulent journey, the metro is hailed not only as a vital transportation link but also as a symbol of coexistence between history and progress
Increasingly hot summers and crops at the mercy of extreme events challenge growers in cross-border areas. In the face of the certainty of climate uncertainty, forces and data are being joined with the European AI-GRAPE project, created to introduce digitalisation into viticulture
The new EU budget is starting to take shape. Cohesion funds could flow into a single National Plan, and the disbursement of funding could be tied to the implementation of specific reforms
The energy sector in Bulgaria is going through a phase of profound transformation, between the need to proceed with decarbonisation and that of freeing itself from traditional ties with Russia. We talked about it in Sofia with expert Kostantsa Rangelova
Between May and July 2024, Jon Worth, an activist calling for better rail transport in Europe, spent about a month documenting the state of cross-border rail connections in south-eastern Europe, boarding dozens of trains, mostly local, and also crossing or visiting a number of cross-border sections that currently have no active rail services.
At least 20% of the economy of North Macedonia develops in the “grey zone”, thus depriving the country and the national budget of resources essential for development. The government of Skopje has announced that it wants to combat the phenomenon through more effective digitalisation
Armenia wants to close the Metsamor nuclear power plant, obsolete and built in seismic territory, and build a new plant by 2036. To achieve this, Yerevan is negotiating with Russia, France and the United States: a contest that touches on energy but also geopolitical issues
While the European Union has made a strong effort to create a recovery plan that incorporates sustainability targets, some member states are falling behind in their duty to implement such reforms
