Erdoğan’s recent public promise to consider reopening the legendary Halki Seminary has revived the historic concerns and aspirations of Istanbul’s Rum community and, in some cases, its support forTurkey’s longest-serving president
Miša Bačulov is a Thai boxing champion, philanthropist, activist and, since 2024, a councilor in the Novi Sad City Assembly. Today, he is one of the most prominent figures of the opposition against Vučić. We met with Bačulov shortly before his arrest
Mabel Matiz, one of Turkey's most famous pop singers, risks prison for his latest song, which has been labeled "obscenity" because it sings of homosexual love: a further crackdown on the LGBT community in the "Year of the Family" decreed by the AKP
Once enjoying extensive powers and considered Azerbaijan's eminence grise, Ramiz Mehdiyev has recently fallen out of favor, accused of plotting a coup and placed under house arrest. A case in point of how power works in Azerbaijan
After months of political stalemate, Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti has failed to win the confidence of the Pristina parliament. The only way out is to call voters back to the polls
Elections in Armenia are still several months away, yet several players are already positioning themselves. The arrest last June of one of current Prime Minister Pashinyan's main rivals has strongly mobilised public opinion
Following the recent conviction for abuse of office of the President and three members of the Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) Council, controversy continues over the appointment of Boris Raonić as director of the Montenegrin public broadcaster
The first round of the local elections in Kosovo shows no major winners, yet the results could influence the next national elections. The calling of early elections is now seen as a possible option
Citizens of North Macedonia are called to renew municipal councils and elect new mayors: this election is marked by the high number of candidates and controversy over the integrity of the electoral lists
With national politics still at an impasse since last February's elections, Kosovo citizens will return to the polls for local elections on October 12, with significant implications also at the central level
By materially supporting European regions on different sides of the border to solve a common problem, Interreg projects demonstrate how the impact of transition is often fostered by cross-border cooperation
After meetings between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye, optimism is growing for a peace treaty by 2026. Yerevan hopes to reopen its border with Ankara. Pashinyan is aiming for concrete results to strengthen his fragile political position
To protect the marine ecosystems of the Adriatic, concrete policies are needed, shared by all the countries bordering this sea. Often, these results are achieved thanks to bottom-up transnational cooperation initiatives. An interview
Previously marginal revanchist intellectuals have been producing grandiose ideological theorisations, that are now at the core of state-sanctioned narratives legitimising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There is however little evidence that the “hawks” can effectively constrain the Kremlin’s policy choices
While President Putin’s conditions for achieving peace with Ukraine stay unshakable amid further peace talks, civilians in occupied territories are fighting against Russification. Although rarely talked about in Western media, Ukrainians are engaging in various forms of resistance, both peaceful and violent.
As the political situation in Serbia remains explosive, the publication of a controversial private conversation highlights an attempt to muzzle the few media outlets in the country that continue to take a critical line towards the government
The law in Kosovo allows incumbent politicians to run for new positions without resigning their seats: a situation that undermines the relationship of trust and transparency between political representatives and voters
Seven months after the elections, Kosovo does not have a parliament yet: the assembly finally elected a president, but then stalled over the choice of a Serbian vice president. A situation that remains divisive and uncertain
From the wild shores of the Danube delta to the gentle, urbanized beaches of the south, the Black Sea coastline is retreating under the pressure of climate change and man-made structures that trap sediment. New interventions aimed at protecting it risk repeating the mistakes of the past
Thirty years after the Srebrenica genocide, we are witnessing another genocide unfold live-streamed. What we once fought for, and the institutions born out of that earlier tragedy, have failed to prevent the obliteration of Gaza. A reflection by Luisa Chiodi, Director of OBCT, and a heartfelt appeal not to surrender to resignation
Concerns are growing over agreements approved by the Montenegrin parliament to authorise investments in the country by the United Arab Emirates, in derogation transparency and environmental protection principles. The operation also raises concerns about the path to European integration
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
Trump's recent meeting with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Aliyev and Pashinyan, in Washington raises hopes for a peace agreement. However, there's a paradox: while leaders shake hands abroad, those who practice reconciliation are being criminalized at home
In what has been described as a historic event, Yerevan and Baku moved closer towards peace this month at a trilateral meeting hosted and facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump. His counterparts from Armenia and Azerbaijan, Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev, said they would nominate him for the coveted Nobel Peace Prize
Overcoming gender inequalities in the labour market in Armenia is a long-standing challenge. However, some promising changes have occurred in recent years, from a stronger participation of women in various sectors to efforts to overcome systemic barriers and change social perceptions
With media outlets in Kosovo and the region increasingly concentrated in the hands of major business moguls, journalists say censorship to protect the owners’ interests has become ‘the norm’.
Baku and Yerevan appear to have made significant progress toward reaching a peace treaty after a meeting, described as "constructive," held in the United Arab Emirates in early July. However, many question marks remain unanswered
The general mood in Serbia is far from commemorative. For the Serbian authorities, summarizes the author, all sides committed crimes during the war, so all sides are guilty, and no one is guilty. A position close to that of former president Slobodan Milosevic after the war
There is an open conflict between the government and the Armenian Church. The government speaks of a coup and arrests two archbishops and a prominent businessman, while the opposition cries foul denouncing political repression. In the background, the geopolitical balance and negotiation with Azerbaijan
Decarbonization in Europe is progressing at different speeds. The challenge is to transform coal-based economies through investment and retraining. Asturias, in Spain, shows the way: existing infrastructure can be repurposed for new uses
