Southeast Europe Research

An incredibly important election in a tiny country just went the right way. Moldova has resisted a huge Russian disinformation campaign and will not become a Russian puppet state.

Voter turnout Moldova is nearly 52% - nearly 1.6 million - which is on the higher side for Moldova. Turnout is quite evenly spread throughout the country.

Over 250.000 in the diaspora have voted, which is a lot less than last year. The diaspora gave the decisive push for Sandu last year.

Indignity: reimagining life in Southeastern Europe In a quest for truth, renowned author Lea Ypi, with her new book Indignity, embarks on a journey that carries her from the multiethnic setting of the last days of the Ottoman Empire to the rise of fas...

This is my review of #Indignity by Albanian author @leaypi.bsky.social for @balcanicaucaso.org. I share how I understood the book and highlight the themes that I found most compelling.

🚨 Publication alert!
Our new paper, co-authored with @judith-moellers.bsky.social, is out in Comparative Migration Studies!

We introduce our concept of intangible remittances, providing clear definitions, a new typology & an integrated framework of remittances.

👉 doi.org/10.1186/s408...

Tanks very much.

This chart shows how much electricity was produced in Kosovo today: 0. 1st time since the war. The plants have finally broken down & Kosovo will import all its electricity. Higher prices and blackouts expected. The caretaker govt asks that we save every kilowatt.

Five people sit on the podium of a lecture theatre and discuss.

The #iamoForum25 concluded with a panel discussion. The panellists explored the question of what makes rural areas livable. www.iamo.de/forum/2025

co-organized by @isqols.bsky.social and @oenb.at

A woman holds a presentation in a lecture theatre with several participants.

At the #iamoForum25, Talita Greyling, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, spoke about how big data and machine learning can be used in social science to measure well-being. www.iamo.de/forum/2025

co-organized by @isqols.bsky.social and @oenb.at

A woman holds a presentation in a lecture theatre with several participants.

Anne White, University College London School of Slavonic and East European Studies, United Kingdom, reported at the #iamoForum25 on the motivations for economic migrants to settle in small towns and rural areas. www.iamo.de/forum/2025

co-organized by @isqols.bsky.social and @oenb.at

Programme overview of the event “IAMO Forum 2025” from 18 - 20 June 2025

The detailed conference agenda of the #iamoForum25 “Rural Roots and Routes: Navigating Complexities of Quality of Life, Immobility, and Migration” can be accessed here: forum2025.iamo.de/program

co-organized by @isqols.bsky.social and @oenb.at

IAMO lecture hall with numerous participants

The #iamoForum25 on “Rural Roots and Routes: Navigating Complexities of Quality of Life, Immobility, and Migration” began today. Last conference day, there will be a panel discussion entitled “What Makes Rural Areas Liveable?”. www.iamo.de/forum/2025

co-organized by @isqols.bsky.social and @oenb.at

Photo and short biography of Drini Imami, as well as the logos of the IAMO Forum, IAMO and the cooperation partners

We are pleased to welcome Drini Imami as a participant in the #iamoForum25 panel discussion “What Makes Rural Areas Liveable?” on 20 June 2025 in #Halle (Saale), Germany. www.iamo.de/forum/2025

co-organized by @isqols.bsky.social and @oenb.at

Summer School “Crop-type Mapping and Area-based Monitoring Using Satellite Remote Sensing” in Driloni, Albania As part of the GEO-WB6 project, a summer school on ‘Crop-type Mapping and Area-based Monitoring Using Satellite Remote Sensing’ was organised in Driloni, Albania.

From 11 to 17 May 2025, IAMO and the Agricultural University of #tirana carried out a #summerschool on “Crop-type Mapping and Area-based Monitoring Using Satellite Remote Sensing” in Driloni, #albania. 👇

Final conference of the TraFFF research project: Migration, entrepreneurship and rural development in South-Eastern Europe On 15 and 16 May 2025, international researchers and practitioners gathered in Pristina to discuss return migration, entrepreneurship and rural development in South-Eastern Europe.

So proud we have led the Leibniz TraFFF project to its final conference in Pristina 🇽🇰 ! 🙌

An inspiring event full of rich discussions on migration, entrepreneurship & rural change in SE Europe. Huge thanks to our amazing team & participants!

@iamo.bsky.social @leibniz-ios.de @viadrina.bsky.social

Die SOG hat jetzt einen Podcast!🥳
Bei Südostwärts gibt es regelmäßige Analysen und Berichte zu Entwicklungen in der Region.
In der ersten Folge geht es um die Präsidentschaftswahlen in Rumänien.
Jetzt reinhören!🔊
lnkd.in/dwNZXf33

Team of enumerators is in a training session in Pristina, Kosovo.

Fieldwork for the DFG-funded research project “Staying Rural and the Status Quo Bias” will begin in early May 2025 in Kosovo and Albania. Local field teams will carry out structured interviews in rural areas across both countries.

Project description: www.iamo.de/en/research/...

(S+) Bosnische Serie »I Know Your Soul«: Manifest der Hoffnung »I Know Your Soul« zeigt ein Bosnien-Herzegowina, in dem viel schiefläuft: Misstrauen, Machos, Mobbing. Trotzdem finden die Hauptfiguren der großartigen Serie Mut. Und Hoffnung für die Zukunft ihres L...

🇧🇦 TV Serie ab 1.5. in der Mediathek

Call for Participation in the Summer School “Crop-type Mapping and Area-based Monitoring using Satellite Remote Sensing” May 11-17, 2025, Drilon (Pogradec), Albania We invite early-career researchers, graduate students, and professionals from government and civil society institutions in the Western Balkans with a professional interest in agriculture and rural development to apply to the Summer School. The immersive program provides hands-on training in satellite image analysis using machine learning techniques for crop classification and agricultural monitoring. Participants will work closely with leading international experts in satellite remote sensing. The Summer School is organised by the Agricultural University of Tirana (UBT) and the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) as part of the project Establishing a Geoinformation Centre for the Western Balkans (GEO-WB6, www.geo-wb6.net). • Duration: May 11th, 6:00 PM, until May 17th, 10:00 AM (full participation expected) • Location: Hotel Driloni, Drilon (Pogradec), Albania • Eligibility: Open to postgraduate students, lecturers, researchers, and professionals in agriculture and related fields who are affiliated with an institution in one of the six Western Balkan countries. Applicants should have a professional interest in geodata analysis, be fluent in English, and bring their laptops. Experience in GIS and remote sensing is an asset. How to apply: Please send your CV and motivation letter to geo-wb6@ubt.edu.al. All submitted documents should be in English language. The application deadline is April 18, 2025. Applicants will be notified of acceptance after April 22, 2025. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment and strongly encourage women and individuals with disabilities to apply.

Call for Participation in the Summer School
“Crop-type Mapping and Area-based Monitoring
using Satellite Remote Sensing”
May 11-17, 2025, Drilon (Pogradec), Albania

More information: www.geo-wb6.net

ONLINE SEMINAR SERIES April 1st 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CET Tracking Wildfire Dynamics in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina Marko Ivanišević, University of Banja Luka This seminar will be divided into two interconnected parts. The first part will explore trends of a simplified meteorological fire danger index in the Republic of Srpska (BiH), while the second part will focus on the use of high-resolution satellite imagery to detect small-scale wildfires in the City of Banja Luka. Together, these segments will provide a comprehensive understanding of wildfire dynamics in the region. Meteorological fire danger indices are used to assess components of fire risk that vary according to weather conditions, utilizing quantitative or qualitative indicators derived from a combination of meteorological variables. For the analysis of the mentioned indices, hourly data from 10 meteorological stations were used, which were later interpolated in a GIS environment. The results of the analysis showed that the months of July, August, and September are the most critical in terms of meteorological conditions for the occurrence of wildfires. Minor differences exist between stations located in different morphological macro-units. Additionally, the analysis of meteorological indices indicates a trend of prolonging the fire season. On the other hand, the analysis of wildfire patterns using high-resolution imagery in the area of Banja Luka indicates two key periods when wildfires occur – spring and summer. Geospatial analyses have shown that the spatial patterns of wildfires in the territory of Banja Luka follow certain established trends, and there is a noticeable difference between the locations and number of wildfires detected through remote sensing products and those where the firefighting unit intervened.

GEO-WB6 www.geo-wb6.net
ONLINE SEMINAR SERIES
April 1st 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CET

Tracking Wildfire Dynamics in the
Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Marko Ivanišević, University of Banja Luka

Register here: forms.gle/C9zNVa9p4Gem...

Call for Participation in the Training Course: “Online Maps - Design, Implementation and More” April 7-11, 2025, Campus of the Agricultural University of Tirana This course will be dedicated to the design and implementation of online maps. In interactive sessions and group works, participants will learn the principled of map design including map elements, existing data sources and data collection methods. Further, they will learn how to choose and design appropriate cartographic representation forms based on their purpose and target group, and how to implement their intended map visualization with different off-the-shelf tools. Participants must be fluent in English and bring their own laptop. Previous experience in GIS is desirable, but not required. Please send your CV and a motivation letter to geo-wb6@ubt.edu.al. All submitted documents should be in English language. Course content: • Cartographic communication theory and principles of map design • Practical exercise with different data sources (e.g. OpenStreetMap) and different data collection methods such as participatory mapping and GPS tracking • Practical exercises with online mapping tools such as Google Earth Pro and ArcGIS Online • Interactive online maps, 3D scenes and animations • Introduction to dashboards and story maps What we offer: • A state-of-the-art training course free of charge • Facilitation by experienced lecturers and researchers • An official course certificate issued by UBT and IAMO • Travel scholarships of 250 € for participants from institutions located in the Western Balkans but outside of Albania (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) The application deadline is March 24, 2025. Applicants will be notified of acceptance after March 25, 2025. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment and strongly encourage women and individuals with disabilities to apply.

Course on “Online Maps - Design, Implementation and More”,
April 7-11, 2025, Tirana, #Albania

Apply by 24 March 2025 with your CV and a motivation letter to geo-wb6@ubt.edu.al.

#geoinformation #GEO-WB6 #GIS #BMEL #WesternBalkan #Tirana

If you are an academic wanting to support academics under attack in Serbia, this is the place to sign.
forms.office.com/pages/respon...

A Starter Pack of people covering today’s massive anti government protests in #Belgrade. Are you on the ground? Message me!

Tensions mount in Serbia as protesters converge on Belgrade Anti-corruption rally is culmination of months of protest shaking grip of autocratic president Tens of thousands of people from across Serbia are expected to join an anti-corruption rally in Belgrade, in what is seen as a culmination of months of…

Tensions mount in Serbia as protesters converge on Belgrade

Although the protest is scheduled for 16:00 today, Serbian citizens from across the country who have gathered in #Belgrade took to the streets earlier, marching toward the National Assembly. This is expected to be the largest demonstration not only in #Serbia but perhaps in the entire Balkans.

Belgrade today. #Serbia

Call for Participation in the Training Course: “Online Maps - Design, Implementation and More” April 7-11, 2025, Campus of the Agricultural University of Tirana This course will be dedicated to the design and implementation of online maps. In interactive sessions and group works, participants will learn the principled of map design including map elements, existing data sources and data collection methods. Further, they will learn how to choose and design appropriate cartographic representation forms based on their purpose and target group, and how to implement their intended map visualization with different off-the-shelf tools. Participants must be fluent in English and bring their own laptop. Previous experience in GIS is desirable, but not required. Please send your CV and a motivation letter to geo-wb6@ubt.edu.al. All submitted documents should be in English language. Course content: • Cartographic communication theory and principles of map design • Practical exercise with different data sources (e.g. OpenStreetMap) and different data collection methods such as participatory mapping and GPS tracking • Practical exercises with online mapping tools such as Google Earth Pro and ArcGIS Online • Interactive online maps, 3D scenes and animations • Introduction to dashboards and story maps What we offer: • A state-of-the-art training course free of charge • Facilitation by experienced lecturers and researchers • An official course certificate issued by UBT and IAMO • Travel scholarships of 250 € for participants from institutions located in the Western Balkans but outside of Albania (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) The application deadline is March 24, 2025. Applicants will be notified of acceptance after March 25, 2025. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment and strongly encourage women and individuals with disabilities to apply.

Course on “Online Maps - Design, Implementation and More”,
April 7-11, 2025, Tirana, #Albania

Apply by 24 March 2025 with your CV and a motivation letter to geo-wb6@ubt.edu.al.

#geoinformation #GEO-WB6 #GIS #BMEL #WesternBalkan #Tirana

Photo and short biography of Anne White, as well as the logos of the IAMO Forum, IAMO and the cooperation partners

Anne White will be a keynote speaker at the #iamoForum25 “Rural Roots and Routes: Navigating Complexities of Quality of Life, #Immobility, and #Migration” from 18 to 20 June 2025 in #Halle (Saale), Germany. www.iamo.de/forum/2025
co-organized by @isqols.bsky.social and @oenb.at

🌱 #CallforApplications 💻
Digitalization is transforming agriculture. Researchers can now apply for 3-month #fellowships and submit contributions for the DigiAgrar_UA workshop (10 - 12 Nov 2025).
📅 Deadline: 16 March 2025
👉All details: rb.gy/5sitff
#DigitalTransformation #SustainableDevelopment

Photo and short biography of Roman Hoffmann, as well as the logos of the IAMO Forum, IAMO and the cooperation partners

Keynote speaker Roman Hoffmann will present his research at the #iamoForum25 “Rural Roots and Routes: Navigating Complexities of Quality of Life, #Immobility, and #Migration” from 18 to 20 June 2025 in #Halle (Saale), Germany. www.iamo.de/forum/2025
co-organized by @isqols.bsky.social and @oenb.at

flowering rape field with three windmills

IAMO Newsletter 1/2025 released: IAMO Forum 2025 +++ IAMO and CERR signed Memorandum of Understanding +++ Database on agricultural land use in the EU published +++ Challenges and opportunities for Ukrainian agriculture

EN: www.iamo.de/en/iamo-newsletter-1/2025
DE: www.iamo.de/iamo-newsletter-1/2025