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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 15h

#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

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 15h

#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

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 15h

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 · 15h

"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 · 1d

"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

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Reposted by Dragoș Ioniță

Adi Ćerimagić @adicerimagic.bsky.social · 2d

🇽🇰 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 👇

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 1d

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 · 1d

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

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 1d

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

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

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

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

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

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

"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

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

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

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

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

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

#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

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

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

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

#Serbia launched the first train on the 183 km long high-speed railway link connecting capital Belgrade to Subotica, on the border with #Hungary, as part of a project to connect Belgrade and Budapest by rail.
seenews.com/news/serbia-...

Serbia launches first high-speed train on Belgrade-Subotica route

Serbia on Friday launched the first train on the 183 km long high-speed railway link connecting capital Belgrade to Subotica, on the border with Hungary, as part of a project to connect Belgrade and B...

seenews.com

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

#Poland recognizes the Volhynia killings as genocide. #Ukraine rejects that label and continues to honor figures from both movements, drawing long-standing criticism from Warsaw and #Israel.
www.intellinews.com/ukraine-warn...

Ukraine warns Poland over President Nawrocki’s bill targeting nationalist symbols

Ukraine will be “forced to take retaliatory measures” if Poland passes a bill equating the Ukrainian nationalist movement with Nazism and ...

www.intellinews.com

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

Writer Anja Mijović first protested in Belgrade against Slobodan Milošević in 2000.
Now she has returned to the streets to join #Serbia’s anti-government demonstrations. She sees clear parallels between today’s protests & those that ended Milošević's rule.
www.rferl.org/a/serbia-pro...

First She Fought Milosevic, Now This Serbian Writer Joins Anti-Vucic Protests

Twenty-five years ago, she was a young Serbian student protesting against Slobodan Milosevic. Now, Anja Mijovic is back on the streets as mass demonstrations rock the nation again.

www.rferl.org

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

Over ten months of protests in #Serbia have shown that citizen resilience can yield results, and they have now cracked the last pillar of his power: international support.
An analysis by Miloš Pavković for Sbunker.
sbunker.org/en/analize/v...

Vucic and the SNS Regime: From Total Control to a House of Cards Collapsing

Për më shumë se 10 muaj, Serbia është ballafaquar me trazira politike, me protestat e udhëhequra nga studentët dhe bllokadat e universiteteve që kanë shpërfaqur plasaritjet e pushtetit. Rënia e qeveri...

sbunker.org

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

After the death of nationalist leader Milošević in 2006 while he was on trial for war crimes, Gordana Igrić explained how he was not the only man responsible for the malign energy in #Serbia that caused so much destruction across the region.
balkaninsight.com/2025/09/29/s...

Slobodan Milosevic and the Dark Side of Serbia

From the BIRN archives: After the death of nationalist leader Milosevic in 2006 while he was on trial for war crimes, Gordana Igric explained how he was not the only man responsible for the malign ene...

balkaninsight.com

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 2d

#Lithuania builds shelters as drones prowl border skies. Recent drone sorties over Lithuania and its neighbours have sparked fears of a full-scale Russian attack, prompting the Baltic country to encourage the building of bomb shelters.
www.france24.com/en/live-news...

Lithuania builds shelters as drones prowl border skies

Recent drone sorties over Lithuania and its neighbours have sparked fears of a full-scale Russian attack, prompting the small Baltic country to encourage the building of bomb shelters.

www.france24.com

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 5d

" #Kosovo’s elections are more than a local contest. They will determine whether the country can reconcile sovereignty with inclusivity, and whether it can resist the stranglehold of a party that undermines both."
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...

In Kosovo’s Elections, Serb Representation Is the West’s Fig Leaf

Left without a functioning Assembly since February 2025, Kosovo’s febrile politics is due for another test. With options for representation of the Serb minority limited to Belgrade-backed proxies, Oct...

carnegieendowment.org

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Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 5d

#Moldova is embedding itself more deeply into the fabric of Western coalitions, primarily through its “coupling” with #Ukraine, both in security and #EUenlargement matters. The country’s foreign stance has consistently shifted towards a pro-EU position.
cepa.org/article/why-...

Why Moldova Matters

For the past few weeks, the small nation of Moldova in southeastern Europe has received more attention than it would like.

cepa.org

Dragoș Ioniță @dragosionita.bsky.social · 5d

"If acquitted, Thaçi’s return to #Kosovo would almost certainly shake up the political scene, which faces a deadlock due to an inability to form a government. It also comes at a time when the caretaker PM is increasingly at odds with Washington & Brussels"
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-at...

What the looming verdict in Thaçi war crimes trial could mean for Kosovo, the Balkans, and beyond

No matter its final verdict, the current case in The Hague against Kosovar politician Hashim Thaçi is likely to have wider repercussions.

www.atlanticcouncil.org