Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 21h

NGOs in #Montenegro are calling for an investigation into the death of Krsto Đurović, a Yugoslav Navy admiral from Montenegro, who in 1991 refused to bomb Dubrovnik – and soon after died in a suspicious helicopter crash.
www.dubrovnik.hr/stradanje-gr...

The destruction and restoration of Dubrovnik from 1991 until 2000 | Grad Dubrovnik

Službene stranice Grada Dubrovnika - The destruction and restoration of Dubrovnik from 1991 until 2000

www.dubrovnik.hr

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 21h

#Kosovo’s political scene remains frozen. Political analyst Artan Muhaxhiri believes that the upcoming local elections might be what’s needed to break the parliamentary deadlock.
www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Ko...

Kosovo, elections in a time of crisis

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 centra...

www.balcanicaucaso.org

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 21h

The #WesternBalkans will not wait forever to join the EU. The current delay strengthens illiberal actors, deepens malign influence & undermines faith in #Europe itself. Accelerated, differentiated & politically owned enlargement is the recipe for success.
www.euractiv.com/opinion/beyo...

Beyond participation trophies: The EU’s credibility crisis in the Western Balkans | Euractiv

Brussels presents enlargement as proof of Europe’s transformative power, yet its failure to deliver undermines that very promise. The EU cannot credibly preach democracy, rule of law, and resilience a...

www.euractiv.com

1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 21h

A recent article argues that transformations of desire are mediated through catharsis, which may manifest as metaphor or metonymy. To illustrate this, it examines #Serbia’s efforts to (re)articulate #Kosovo as its central object of desire.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Catharsis, rearticulation of desire and ontological insecurity: The case of Serbia’s attachment to Kosovo | Review of International Studies | Cambridge Core

Catharsis, rearticulation of desire and ontological insecurity: The case of Serbia’s attachment to Kosovo

www.cambridge.org

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 21h

The #BalticStates are drawing up contingency plans to deal with the possibility of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing a troop buildup or attack.
www.reuters.com/business/aer...

www.reuters.com

1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 1d

At its regular session in Strasbourg (20-23 October), the European Parliament will discuss the political & social crisis in #Serbia. MEPs are expected to adopt a new resolution which will address the growing polarisation & intensified repression in Serbia.
www.serbianmonitor.com/en/european-...

European Parliament prepares a new resolution on Serbia – Serbian Monitor

At its regular session in Strasbourg, from 20 to 23 October, the European Parliament will discuss the political and social crisis in Serbia, and Members of Parliament are expected to adopt a new resol...

www.serbianmonitor.com

2

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 1d

#Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić publicly urged PM Ðuro Macut and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić to meet all EU demands, no matter how humiliating they might seem, in order to achieve faster progress on the European path.
n1info.rs/english/news...

Vucic urges Macut and Brnabic: Fulfill all EU demands, even the humiliating ones

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic publicly urged Prime Minister Djuro Macut and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic to meet all European Union (EU) demands, no matt

n1info.rs

1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 1d

#Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić has accused #Türkiye of violating international laws and destabilizing the #WesternBalkans by supplying weapons to #Kosovo.
When neo-ottomanism meets Greater Serbia aspirations....
www.politico.eu/article/turk...

Serbian president slams Turkey over arms sales to Kosovo

Turkey was among the first countries to recognize Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia.

www.politico.eu

1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

#Austria and #Slovenia are among the EU member states advocating for the introduction of qualified majority voting in decisions on #EUenlargement.
The proposal for a qualified majority was first put forward last year by #Germany and #Slovenia.
www.intellinews.com/austria-and-...

Austria and Slovenia advocate qualified majority voting to unblock EU enlargement

Austria and Slovenia are among the European Union member states advocating for the introduction of qualified majority voting in decisions on EU ...

www.intellinews.com

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 3d

#Albania and #NorthMacedonia began fully implementing the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) system on 7 October while #Moldova and #Montenegro achieved full operational readiness for SEPA the day before.
europeanwesternbalkans.com/2025/10/08/a...

europeanwesternbalkans.com

1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 3d

#NorthMacedonia’s government wants to require journalists and others to seek permission to use open data from public institutions, heightening concerns about transparency under the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party.
balkaninsight.com/2025/10/08/o...

Open Data Bill in North Macedonia Triggers New Transparency Concerns

North Macedonia’s government wants to require journalists and others to seek permission to use open data from public institutions, heightening concerns about transparency under the ruling VMRO-DPMNE p...

balkaninsight.com

1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 3d

A judge in #Albania has been shot dead after a man opened fire during a trial at the Court of Appeal in the capital Tirana.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Albanian judge shot dead in court by man during trial

Judge Astrit Kalaja was killed while two others were injured during a hearing at Tirana's Court of Appeal.

www.bbc.com

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 3d

"Having Erdoğan close to Trump at such a moment ensures that a leader who knows the region’s complexity & who has already built personal rapport with #Serbia's Vučić & #Bosnia’s Serb entity leader, Milorad Dodik, can act as both mediator & protector."
www.dailysabah.com/opinion/op-e...

Erdoğan’s close ties with Trump could keep the Balkans stable | Opinion

The Erdoğan-Trump connection may shape Balkan stability through strategic influence and diplomacy

www.dailysabah.com

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 5d

"We might be witnessing the end of the strong Russian hold over its “near abroad”. Russian influence will not evaporate in #Moldova, the #SouthCaucasus and #CentralAsia, but there is no doubt it is in sharp decline."
scrambleforeurope.substack.com/p/moldovas-v...

Moldova’s vote is one more sign of Russia’s weakness in its ‘near abroad’

Instead of boosting its geopolitical sway, the war in Ukraine has weakened Russia’s hold over its neighbours.

scrambleforeurope.substack.com

1

Reposted by Dragoș Ioniță

Adi Ćerimagić @adicerimagic.bsky.social · 5d

🇽🇰 applied for 🇪🇺 membership is December 2022.
It has now been 33 months since then — and the next step, for the Council to ask the European Commission for its opinion, is still pending.

One reason: 5 members don't recognise 🇽🇰.

The latest #Eurobarometer shows how citizens view #Kosovo’s #EU bid 👇

1 2 3

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 5d

Starting this October, the Faculty of Journalism & Communication (University of Bucharest) introduced a course, focusing on War Correspondence. It will be taught by a renowned war correspondent, who has reported from war zones such as #Ukraine, #Syria, #Iraq & #Gaza.
civis.eu/en/get-infor...

From the frontlines to the classroom: War correspondent joins UB faculty to teach new course

civis.eu

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 5d

The EU Commission confirmed that it will withhold part of the second payment to #Bulgaria under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) until the country fulfills one of the key conditions - the reform of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
novinite.com/view_news.ph...

EU Commission Freezes Part of Bulgaria’s Recovery Funds over Anti-Corruption Reform Delay - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

The European Commission confirmed that it will withhold part of the second payment to Bulgaria under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) until the country fulfills one of the key conditions - the r...

m.novinite.com

1 1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 5d

A group of 55 members of the European Parliament has called on the European Council to open accession talks with #Moldova, pointing to the country’s recent pro-EU election results as a clear mandate for integration.
tvpworld.com/89315476/eu-...

EU lawmakers urge council to open accession talks with Moldova after pro-EU election win

EU lawmakers urge council to open accession talks with Moldova after pro-EU election win.

tvpworld.com

1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 5d

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his government resigned, a stunning development in a political crisis that now threatens to upend what remains of President Emmanuel Macron’s ability to govern #France.
www.politico.eu/article/fren...

French PM and government resign, pitching Macron into chaos

The new administration had been appointed less than 12 hours before resigning.

www.politico.eu

1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 5d

In the shadow of the standoff between the government and the protesters in #Serbia, the solution to the conflict may lie in Skopje. But the recipe validated in #NorthMacedonia in 2015 needs a few adjustments...
europeanwesternbalkans.com/2025/10/03/c...

Could the Macedonian Pržino deal work in Serbia? - European Western Balkans

In the shadow of the standoff between the government and the protesters in Serbia, the solution to the conflict may lie in Skopje, in the district of Pržino.

europeanwesternbalkans.com

1 1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 6d

"Slobodan Milošević’s legacy lives on—not only in the memories of genocide, mass graves, sieges & ethnic cleansing, but also in the lingering nationalism that continues to poison politics across the region. The ghosts of his policies haunt #Serbia, #Bosnia & #Kosovo"
en.yenisafak.com/world/25-yea...

25 years after his fall, Slobodan Milošević’s ideas are still alive

25 years after his fall, Slobodan Milošević’s ideas are still alive - Yeni Şafak

en.yenisafak.com

1 2

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 6d

Ukrainian Railways has launched a new direct rail service connecting Kyiv and Bucharest, marking a significant development in cross-border transport links between #Ukraine and #Romania.
rubryka.com/2025/10/04/u...

"Укрзалізниця" запускає новий міжнародний маршрут Київ – Бухарест: квитки вже у продажу

З 10 жовтня Укрзалізниця запускає щоденне сполучення між Києвом і Бухарестом. Квитки на новий поїзд уже доступні онлайн, а вартість подорожі у купейному вагоні становить близько 3800 гривень. Про це п...

rubryka.com

1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 6d

Beneath #Moldova’s pro-EU celebrations lies a troubling reality for the country’s cohesion, that has gone largely unnoticed. Analyzing voting behavior in regions such as Găgăuzia & Taraclia is crucial to understand just how far minorities remain excluded.
newunionpost.eu/2025/10/03/m...

In Moldova the EU is failing to address national minorities

Outvoted in regions left out of national integration, where Russian propaganda thrives, the pro-EU Moldovan ruling party carries major responsibility

newunionpost.eu

1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 6d

#Croatia is prepared to produce several million first-person view (FPV) drones per year to meet rising demand - a deal on anti-drone protection for critical infrastructure will soon be signed.
www.intellinews.com/croatia-read...

Croatia ready to scale up FPV drone production to millions annually, defence minister says

Croatia is prepared to produce several million first-person view (FPV) drones per year to meet rising demand, Defence Minister Ivan Anušić said on ...

www.intellinews.com

1

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 6d

A COMPASS survey shows #Serbia’s paradox: Europe is its main economic partner, Russia dominates identity, China is useful but risky, and citizens prefer cautious continuity over dramatic foreign shifts.
substack.com/inbox/post/1...

Four Pillars doctrine tested: What citizens think of Serbia’s foreign policy path

COMPASS survey shows Serbia’s paradox: Europe is its main economic partner, Russia dominates identity, China is useful but risky, and citizens prefer cautious continuity over dramatic foreign shifts.

substack.com