Dragoș Ioniță

Serbia and the European Union: the moment of decision - Institut Jacques Delors

"Serbs have never felt less able to rely on their European partners, measuring the gap between the values the EU proclaims and the complacency it shows toward a regime that tramples them. Today, #Serbia is experiencing a genuine State and media capture."
institutdelors.eu/en/publicati...

Bulgaria sounds out exemption to Trump’s oil sanctions amid fears of fuel shortages Sofia argues that its Lukoil-owned Burgas refinery could stop working. Experts say it’s playing for time.

#Bulgaria is exploring requesting an exemption to new U.S. sanctions against Russia’s largest private oil company, as it fears the measures will cause severe fuel shortages and a populist backlash across the country.
www.politico.eu/article/bulg...

The students in #Serbia set a standard for civic responsibility in a context where institutions no longer function in the public interest. They showed that when democracy collapses, it does not return by decree or negotiation. It is reclaimed. It is built in the street, in the refusal to withdraw.

#BosniaHerzegovina:
- 16% of citizens are satisfied with the national direction.
- 17% of citizens plan to emigrate, citing political instability, lack of respect for rights & corruption.
- 72% of respondents support joining the EU.
- 54% in favour of NATO membership.

Hungary's enlargement policy: No to Ukraine, yes to Western Balkans Hungary opposes Ukraine's accession to the EU, threatening a veto, but Budapest is not against EU enlargement entirely: Prime Minister Orbán backs the Western Balkans and supports Moldova and Georgia ...

#Hungary opposes #Ukraine's accession to the EU, threatening a veto, but Budapest is not against EU enlargement entirely: Prime Minister Orbán backs the #WesternBalkans and supports #Moldova and #Georgia in a complex (and dangerous) balancing act.
www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...

No Accountability, No Trust: Serbia, One Year after the Novi Sad Disaster The Novi Sad railway station disaster last November cost 16 lives and sparked the biggest protest movement in Serbia for a quarter of a century. But despite the public outcry, the judiciary hasn’t man...

#Serbia has been a different country since November 1, 2024, because of “a tragedy that should not have happened”. But it also served to bring people together.
balkaninsight.com/2025/10/31/n...

Blagoevgrad to Host Fourth Balkan Theatre Festival from November 1 to 7 The fourth edition of the Balkan Theatre Festival will take place in Blagoevgrad from November 1 to 7, the local Nikola Vaptsarov Drama Theatre announced on Friday. The annual international platform, ...

The 4th edition of the Balkan Theatre Festival will take place in Blagoevgrad from November 1 to 7.
The event organized by the 'Nikola Vaptsarov' Theatre brings together theatre companies & directors from #Bulgaria, #Serbia, #NorthMacedonia & #Romania.
www.bta.bg/en/news/cult...

After Novi Sad: How the EU can help Serbia resurrect its democratic path Serbia’s young people are making their dissatisfaction with Aleksandar Vucic’s corrupt government known. The EU should consider freezing Serbia’s accession negotiations and support the country’s…

"On 1st November, #Serbia’s students and various civil actors need to unite & cultivate a shared understanding of their goals for the protests to remain peaceful. The demonstrators should work with the political opposition to produce credible leadership."
ecfr.eu/article/afte...

Bulgaria Targets OECD Membership by End of 2026 - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency Bulgaria aims to complete its accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) by the end of 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozd...

So far, #Bulgaria has successfully completed 16 of the 25 required technical reviews conducted by #OECD committees and is actively engaged in policy discussions within the organization.
Sofia aims to join the OECD by the end of 2026.
www.novinite.com/view_news.ph...

As students in #Serbia mark the first anniversary of the fatal railway station canopy collapse in #NoviSad, that sparked massive nationwide protests, there are signs that far-right nationalist groups have sought to infiltrate and even hijack the movement.
www.rferl.org/a/33577967.h...

Neighbourly conflicts hinder North Macedonia at the gates of the EU Historical and cultural disputes between North Macedonia and Bulgaria hinder EU accession. The stalemate revolves around identity and language recognition.

#Bulgaria claims that #NorthMacedonia is imposing "anti-Bulgarian rhetoric," while North Macedonia claims that Bulgaria is threatening its identity. And so, for decades, this political "ping-pong" has been played out at the gates of the EU.
www.euronews.com/2025/10/31/n...

Bulgaria Temporarily Bans Petroleum Exports to EU Amid Energy Security Concerns - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency The Bulgarian Parliament has approved a temporary ban on the export and intra-Community supply of petroleum products, primarily diesel and aviation fuel, to other European Union member states. The dec...

The Parliament in Sofia approved a temporary ban on the export & intra-Community supply of petroleum products to other EU member states.
The measure aims to safeguard #Bulgaria’s energy security and maintain stability in the domestic fuel market.
www.novinite.com/view_news.ph...

Danas nema važnijeg mesta od Novog Sada....🕯️

Statement by PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos on Latvia’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention “I am deeply alarmed by the decision of the Latvian Parliament to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, just over a year after it entered into force in the country. This is an unprecedented and deepl...

"By abandoning the first and only international treaty that recognises violence against women as a violation of human rights, #Latvia sends a dangerous message — that women’s safety and dignity can be questioned or negotiated."
pace.coe.int/en/news/10084

“By the end of this year and (the beginning of) next year, we will see…a stronger #NATO presence in #Romania and a stronger NATO capacity to intervene in case Romania is subject to a direct threat.”
www.rferl.org/a/romanian-f...

Big demonstration in Rīga against Istanbul Convention exit On Wednesday, October 29th, the largest protest Latvia has seen for several years took place outside the Saeima (parliament) building with participants demonstrating against Latvia's potenti...

Last night, the largest protest #Latvia has seen for several years took place outside the Saeima building with participants demonstrating against Latvia's potential withdrawal from the #IstanbulConvention.
eng.lsm.lv/article/poli...

Lithuania to close border with Belarus for one month, with exceptions Lithuania's government decided on Wednesday to close the country's border with Belarus for one month, while allowing cer...

#Lithuania's government decided to close the country's border with #Belarus for one month.
The travel ban will not apply to diplomats, diplomatic mail, travelers holding simplified transit documents, and Lithuanian citizens returning to Lithuania.
www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-e...

NATO Launches Largest Digital Warfare Exercise in Latvia NATO has begun its largest digital warfare exercise in Latvia to test how AI and unmanned systems cooperate in complex operations.

#NATO has begun its largest digital warfare exercise in #Latvia to test how AI and unmanned systems can work together in complex operational environments.
The two-week Digital Backbone Experiment started on October 27 at Ādaži Military Base.
thedefensepost.com/2025/10/29/n...

Russian Historical Society opens branch in Belgrade The Inaugural Assembly of the Russian Historical Society was held on Sunday. Aleksandar Vulin was elected as chair of the council.

Apart from te opening of the Historical Society, #Russia & #Serbia are planning to organize the first Forum of Rectors of Russian & Serbian higher education institutions & are also considering the creation of a Russian-Serbian association of universities.
europeanwesternbalkans.com/2025/10/28/r...

In a small cemetery in the village of Vojna Vas, southeastern #Slovenia, a new monument stands to honour migrants who lost their lives attempting to cross into Slovenia and who are typically buried in unmarked graves, the identities of many unknown.
sloveniatimes.com/45380/monume...

How the Western Balkans Can Contribute to European Defense The Western Balkans’ defense industry offers Europe a chance to strengthen its security. But to become net contributors, governments across the region must modernize their militaries, attract investme...

"The #WesternBalkans’ defense industry offers #Europe a chance to strengthen its security. To become net contributors, governments across the region must modernize their militaries, attract investment & gradually integrate into EU’s defense initiatives."
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...

Rewriting the Rules in the Western Balkans: China’s true multilateralism in practice China’s vision of true multilateralism is reshaping the Western Balkans by offering a pragmatic, sovereignty-based alternative to the Western rules-based order.

#Europe’s own internal divisions & the slow pace of enlargement have created space for #China to step in the #WesternBalkans. While the EU remains critical, there are cautious discussions about limited cooperation with Beijing in certain areas.
chinainthewesternbalkans.substack.com/p/rewriting-...

The College of Europe will host, beginning early 2025, a new diplomatic programme: the EU Diplomatic Programme for the Enlargement Region.
Interested candidates to join the new residential programme are invited to apply before December 9th.
Details: www.coleurope.eu/call-applica...

The first EU Enlargement Forum in Brussels on 18 November The European Commission's 2025 EU Enlargement Forum will host high-level panels, alongside satellite presentations, workshops, and discussions

On 18 November, the Eropean Commission will organise the first-ever event dedicated to its 2024–2029 priority. The high-level panel will feature the PMs of #Albania and #Montenegro, European Commissioners, and the heads of EU institutions.
newunionpost.eu/2025/10/28/f...

Albania’s AI minister ‘pregnant’ with 83 children, PM says Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) “minister”, Diella, is “pregnant” with 83 ...

#Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) “minister”, Diella, is “pregnant” with 83 virtual offspring — one for each ruling party lawmaker — who will serve as digital parliamentary assistants.
www.intellinews.com/albania-s-ai...

Kurti’s Failure to Form Government Leaves Kosovo in Limbo After incumbent prime minister Albin Kurti failed to obtain a majority in parliament for his proposed cabinet, snap elections may now be the only way out.

After incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti failed to obtain a majority in #Kosovo's parliament for his proposed cabinet, snap elections may now be the only way out.
balkaninsight.com/2025/10/27/k...

Montenegro introduces visas for Turkish citizens In today’s remote session, the Government of Montenegro decided to suspend the visa-free regime for Turkish citizens temporarily

The Government of #Montenegro decided to temporarily suspend the visa-free regime for Turkish citizens. The measure is temporary and aims to review and strengthen mechanisms for monitoring the entry and stay of foreign nationals as quickly as possible.
europeanwesternbalkans.com/2025/10/27/m...

Sarajevo Has Only Itself to Blame for America’s Shift on Dodik This article is available in Bosnian Sarajevo is aghast. The Trump administration appears to be moving towards lifting all US sanctions against the secessionist authorities in Banja Luka, including Mi...

"It is the height of absurdity for anyone in Sarajevo to complain about any shift in US or European policy towards #BosniaHerzegovina, when they themselves demonstrate such brazen disregard, such outright hostility to the welfare of their own country."
odgovor.ba/article/3138/

Croatia reintroduces conscription to boost defence | Euractiv Around 18,000 men would be enlisted annually as they turn 18 to take two months of training

#Croatia's parliament voted to reintroduce compulsory military service. The move comes amid heightened tensions in #Europe following the Russian aggression against #Ukraine, as well as an apparent arms race and military buildup in the #Balkans.
www.euractiv.com/news/croatia...

Zelensky urged 27 EU leaders to act on Ukraine's accession "I urge you to find a way for the EU to keep its promises, just as Ukraine is keeping its own," President Zelensky said at the European Council

Recalling that "EU enlargement is also part of our shared defence—part of #Europe's geopolitical security," #Ukraine’s President made it clear at the European Council that Kyiv has done "everything needed" to open the negotiating clusters on time.
newunionpost.eu/2025/10/24/z...