Archeology
What's new in the Neolithic?
Recent research has revealed interesting details about health, attitudes towards death and burial in our area in the early Neolithic
Standard of living
"Economic Tiger": How much is the Serbian minimum wage lower than the Montenegrin one
Vučić constantly repeats that everyone is jealous of his fantastic economic success and that's why they want to remove him from power. However, when the Serbian minimum is compared with the Slovenian, Croatian and Montenegrin ones, you can see where Serbia is
Criminal
"Narco-terrorism": What connects Venezuela to the Balkans?
Numerous investigations regarding the trial of Nicolás Maduro, conducted by the US authorities, also mention the participation of some Balkan cartels in the smuggling of narcotics from Venezuela. Which roads from South America lead to our landscapes
Myths and prejudices
They say that the Balkans is a "powder keg"
What are the Balkans like? Wild, in eternal wars! That picture of us was written by others, and we accepted and deepened it. If you look at it soberly, we are actually ordinary...
The European Commission
Kos: The EU is concerned about the rule of law in Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia
Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, said the EU is concerned about the rule of law in candidate countries.
Shutting down the program
The end after 14 years: Al Jazeera Balkans is closing
After more than a decade of operation, regional television Al Jazeera Balkans (AJB) is shutting down its program. With headquarters in Sarajevo and newsrooms throughout the former Yugoslavia, AJB was recognizable for its quality documentary and informative content. Although the official reasons have not yet been released, it is assumed that the decision to shut down was made for financial reasons
Spreading power
Mosques and geopolitics: How Erdogan is building Turkey's influence in the Balkans
By building monumental mosques throughout the Balkans and beyond, Turkey is not only spreading its faith, but also its political influence. Under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, religious buildings have become part of a wider geopolitical strategy – in which minarets are 50 meters high and political messages are even taller.
Student rebellion in the Balkans
From Vardar to Triglav: How students unite the post-Yugoslav states
Yugoslavia fell apart in bloody conflicts 33 years ago. Today, three decades later, children born after the time of evil unite the region with protests for the rule of law
Interview: Marija Todorova
European identity is shared only by bureaucrats in Brussels
"Today, the discourse on the Balkans focuses on corruption and poverty. For example, if you read the news, even when Bulgaria is presented as an attractive tourist destination, it will always be described as 'the poorest country'. That adjective cannot be omitted. Of course, Bulgarians are now waiting for a poorer country to join the European Union so that they can finally stop being the 'poorest'. Poverty is criminalized, it is considered something bad, almost a moral flaw"
Research
Young people from the Balkans: What do they want and what do they hope for?
The results of research by the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation reveal that economic security is a key priority for young people across the Balkans. Their concern for stable jobs and a good standard of living prevails
Personal attitude
The Balkan geopolitical carousel
Any virtual arms race deprives the region of the possibility of development and wastes the heritage of the young generation. Purchases such as the Rafal aircraft or the HIMARS artillery-missile system represent only a budgetary expense that does not fundamentally contribute to the level of security, and takes away the possibility of development in many other areas. These acquisitions of aircraft far exceed the financial capabilities of both Croatia and Serbia
Missing
Politics is the main culprit: More than 11.000 missing persons are still being searched for in the Balkans
Thirty years after the war, more than 11.000 missing persons are still being searched for in the Balkan region. In recent years, the search process has slowed down, and politics is responsible for that
Power outage
How did the Balkans remain in the dark?
An unprecedented failure of the power system on Friday caused a blackout in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Albania. There is still no official information on the cause of the failure, but it is suspected that it was caused by irrational consumption of electricity
Big failure
After several hours of interruption, the electricity supply in the region has been normalized
A large fire on a 400-kilowatt transmission line in inaccessible terrain on the Montenegrin border with Bosnia and Herzegovina caused a power outage in the countries of the region.
Violence against women
Husband killed his wife: How did it stop being news?
Failure to report violence can lead to a fatal outcome. That is why the Citizen's Protector appeals to everyone to immediately report knowledge, as well as any suspicion that violence against women has occurred or is occurring in their vicinity or surroundings.
Depopulation
Analysis: Without immigration, Serbia will not be able to solve the demographic crisis
In the Balkan countries, there are noticeable problems caused on the one hand by emigration and the drop in the number of newborns, and on the other by immigration from Asia, for which these countries are not ready
Politics
Zidojce Zeitung: Vučić has starved democracy, and criticism from the West is still silent
Vučić is a strongman who should prevent geopolitical chaos in the Balkans and ensure a pleasant investment climate. In return, they must destroy democracy so that only a facade remains, the respected Zidojce Zeitung assesses
The World
How did Turkey become a haven for Balkan cartels?
Daily shootings, murders, massive money laundering... The Turkish Minister of the Interior has started a fight against mafias from all over the world who have settled in this country. Among them are the infamous clans from Montenegro and Serbia
Education
PISA test 2022: The navigation course of an educational system
The results of the latest PISA test for 2022 showed that students from Serbia are below the OECD average in math, reading and scientific literacy. Professor of the Serbian language and member of the education union Nezavisnost Vesna Vojvodić Mitrović tells the "Vremena" portal that the elation at progress, expressed in the announcement of the Government of Serbia, is not only inappropriate but also intrusive.
Femicide
Western Balkans: Brutal murders of women reveal system flaws
Throughout the Western Balkans, women are harassed, raped, beaten and killed. The perpetrators are usually their partners. Most countries in our region have adopted appropriate laws and regulations to combat violence against women, but their implementation is still inconsistent, say activists. Even after repeated reports of violence, competent institutions do not react adequately, and women remain unprotected
International relations
James Rubin: Serbia is an entry point for Russian propaganda
Serbia is the entry point for Russian propaganda in the Western Balkans, said American coordinator James Rubin at the State Department's Center for Global Engagement.
Inheritance
Is viewing of your garden allowed?
Ruined villas with gardens and neglected fortresses from the Austro-Hungarian period testify that even Istria, the most civilized part of the once common state, is not immune to the ills of the post-communist societies of the Balkans.
America and Serbia
Foreign media about Vulin: Pro-Russian head of Serbian spies
"The US sanctions the pro-Russian head of the Serbian intelligence service for corruption", "The US sanctions the top Serbian security official for actions that support the 'malign activities' of Russia", are some of the numerous headlines
News
NATO summit in Madrid: Sweden and Finland one step away from the Alliance
NATO leaders adopted a new "Strategic Concept" on the first day of the summit, in which it is emphasized that "the Western Balkans and the Black Sea region are of strategic importance for the Atlantic Alliance." Finland and Sweden resolved their differences with Turkey, which opened the way for the admission of these two countries to NATO
In the new issue
Tvrtko Jakovina: Fear of the world of nationalist champions
"Tito's Yugoslavia had countless problems, but it did not want to be passive and provincial, but wanted to take things outside the scope. She gathered the third world, she had something to say on behalf of those countries. Today, our diplomats fail to use the tools that could make them important, such as, say, membership in the EU, but also being in the Balkans, the fact that we know and understand that area, that we live together. But it's not just a matter of people. The mentality has changed - there is a general cowardice of nations that at the same time see themselves as champions of nationalism."
In the new issue
The fall of Boyko Borisov: Nothing personal, brother
Although his political opponents would like it to happen to him, the Serbian president is far from the prison fate that befell many of his colleagues from the region. Unlike them, he seems to have more luck, as he has far more control in his hands
News
The European Union and Ukraine: The return of lost unity
In a moment of crisis of historic proportions, the European Union managed to agree on a joint response of all 27 member states to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. No one expected that, least of all Vladimir Putin. We should not rule out the possibility that this new reshuffle of the EU will bring about a change in the current paradigm towards the Balkans