Bosnia & Herzegovina
EBRD2024: EBRD expects Emerging Europe growth boost in 2024, but slightly lowers forecast
Development bank makes downward revision in latest forecasts after worse than expected Q1 figures for Central Europe.
Bridging economies: The catalyst role of low-cost cross-border payment transfers in the Western Balkans
Exorbitant international B2B payment transfers are a barrier to cross-border trade for enterprises in the Western Balkans, a World Bank analysis shows.
Western Balkans urged to embrace renewable energy for district heating
Fossil fuels are still being burned in district heating networks across the Western Balkans, despite the pressing need to prepare for the transition to green energy, finds a Bankwatch report.
Think-tank warns UN vote on Srebrenica genocide could trigger Republika Srpska’s secession from Bosnia
Hudson Institute says move towards secession could in turn spark broader ethnic conflicts in Balkans.
Serbs see Russians as main ally, US as biggest threat
IRI’s Western Balkan survey also reveals Albanians and Kosovars most committed to EU and Nato membership; support flagging in other countries.
Russia already treating Bosnia’s Republika Srpska as an independent state
Use of Republika Srpska’s flag alongside national flags at St Petersburg conference seen as a possible green light by Russia for Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik’s secession plans.
CEE recovering but no full rebound in sight, says wiiw
Germany’s slow recovery is dampening growth prospects for Central and Southeast European economies.
Future of Emerging Europe’s hybrid regimes hangs in the balance
With Emerging Europe increasingly polarised between democracies and authoritarian states, it is unclear in which direction the hybrid regimes – which fall between the two camps – will go, says Freedom House.
Parliament of Bosnia’s Republika Srpska passes resolution denying Srebrenica genocide
Bosnian Serb politicians have repeatedly pushed against Bosnia’s state-level legislation, which stipulates that denying the Srebrenica genocide is a crime.
US senators seek closer ties with Western Balkans to combat Russia's 'malign influence'
Members of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations warned of the risk of destabilisation in the Western Balkans since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Bosnian Serbs threaten to secede if UN adopts resolution on Srebrenica genocide
Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik urges MPs to endorse resolution denying the Srebrenica genocide and says Serbs can no longer live alongside Bosnian Muslims.
EBRD announces profit of €2.1bn in 2023
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a significant rebound in its financial performance, recording a robust profit of €2.1bn for the year 2023, up from losses of €1.1bn in 2022.
Southeast Europe urgently recruiting from developing Asia ahead of summer season
One of Europe’s poorest regions is tackling labour shortages by importing workers from as far away as Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
Czech spy agency says pro-Kremlin media ring targets European Parliament elections in several states
Far-right politicians across the EU have been promoted on the Voice of Europe media platform ahead of the European Parliament elections.
Bosnia’s GDP growth slows to 1.7% y/y in 4Q23
World Bank expects annual growth of 2.5% this year, down from 4% in 2023.
Bosnia gets green light for start of EU membership talks
Bosnia has made strong reform progress over the last year, and will start talks as soon as it fulfils conditions set by the European Commission.
Slim hopes of EU enlargement progress ahead of European Parliament elections
EU members are pushing for the start of accession talks with Bosnia at this week’s EU Council, but wider progress unlikely before June elections.
Putin’s biggest fans in Southeast Europe hail election victory
Only the few remaining allies of the Russian president such as Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and Moldovan ex-president Igor Dodon welcomed Putin's victory.
Illiberal axis between Budapest and Balkans threatens regional stability, analyst warns
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban’s close ties with leaders of Serbia and Bosnia’s Republika Srpska have encouraged nationalism and authoritarian tendencies with negative consequences for stability, says paper published by EPC.
European Commission recommends start of accession talks with Bosnia
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says Bosnia made more reform progress in the last year than the previous decade.