Wildfires spread across the Balkans

Large wildfires are burning in Serbia and North Macedonia as hot, dry weather continues across the region. Serbia has asked the European Union for help after weeks of fires, including a major blaze near Belgrade that has burned thousands of hectares. The …

'Jerusalem of the Balkans:' Exploring Thessaloniki's lost Jewish history - opinion

I’m standing with my husband at the port in Thessaloniki, a vital commercial hub on the Aegean Sea connecting Southern Europe with the Balkans.I’m thinking of the Jewish stevedores who once worked these docks, and of those who later made aliyah and helped …

Slovenia's NLB loses Addiko but keeps hunting across the Balkans

Slovenia's biggest bank has lost its year-long fight for Austria's Addiko, but the defeat has done nothing to dim its appetite for deals across the former Yugoslavia. Nova Ljubljanska banka (LJSE: NLBR), the Ljubljana-listed group that controls …

Green Balkans Proposes Bearded Vulture as Eurovision 2027 Symbol, Hoping It Will Enhance Species' Protection

The Green Balkans environment protection organization has proposed the bearded vulture as a symbol of Bulgaria for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, hoping that it will enhance the protection of the species. The organization cites conservation efforts …

Balkans turn to Asian workers in response to shrinking workforces

For three decades, the Balkans exported workers. Now countries across the region are increasingly importing them from Nepal, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and elsewhere in Asia. Albania signed labour agreements with Vietnam and Indonesia within 24 …

‘Return Hubs’ for Migrants Anticipated in Balkans for ‘Era of Deportations’

Under the auspices of the Austria-Hungary-Serbia agreement, migrants are reportedly sent back very quickly, with the process taking place in less than 48 hours, the NGO KlikAktiv told BIRN. This raises concerns among human rights organisations about …

Albania leads Western Balkans in EU Growth Plan funding

Albania has received the most funding so far from the European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. By May 2026, Albania had received €212 million, followed by Serbia with €168 million and North Macedonia with €141 million. Montenegro had received …

Deadly storms batter Germany as Balkans fight wildfires

Serbia: RSF raises alarm about growing number of exiled journalists, unparalleled in EU-Balkans zone

The most recent departure is that of Aleksandar Radić, a freelance journalist specialising in military affairs and among the first to state publicly – in line with other media reports – that a sonic weapon had probably been used against the participants at …

Deadly storms batter Germany as Balkans fight wildfires

Germany was bracing for more severe storms after wild weather caused widespread damage. Photo: AP PHOTO A woman has died and at least two other people were injured as severe storms caused extensive damage across parts of Germany.  Further southeast, in …