Bosnia & Herzegovina
European commissioner confirms €30bn EU investment plan for Western Balkans
Plan will only be effective if region works together Oliver Varhelyi tells summit marred by verbal clash between prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo.
US to impose sanctions against individuals who destabilise Western Balkans
Executive order signed by US President Joe Biden shows Washington's increased engagement and no tolerance for corruption in the Western Balkans.
UN court rejects Mladic's appeal against genocide conviction
Wartime Bosnian Serb military commander dubbed the ‘Butcher of Bosnia’ lost his appeal against his 2017 conviction for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Bosnia awaits final verdict for ‘Butcher of Bosnia’ Mladic
Verdict from UN court in The Hague expected to raise tensions in Bosnia shortly after appointment of new high representative reopened the debate on the country’s future.
Coronavirus restrictions eased across much of Southeast Europe as new cases dwindle
Easing announced as the number of new cases has fallen sharply, boding well for a revival of economic growth after the spring lockdowns.
Spain’s Glovo to buy Delivery Hero’s business in six Southeast European countries for €170mn
Barcelona-based delivery company interested in the emerging Europe region where people have embraced on-demand delivery platforms.
Consumer prices up 0.9% y/y in Bosnia in April
Transport prices shot up by 5.8% y/y in April reflecting the low base effect from the lockdown month of April 2020.
Bosnia's central bank ups 2021 growth forecast as economy outperforms expectations in Q1
Central bank lifts 2021 GDP growth forecast to 3.4% citing recovery of key indicators including industrial production and exports of goods.
Bosnia’s foreign trade gains momentum in April
Bosnia’s exports soared by 76% y/y to $679mn in April, while imports rose by 65% to $1.94bn, with both performances sustained by the low base effects.
Western Balkans do better than eastern EU members on LBGTI rights
Montenegro has the best legal and policy environment for LGBTI people in the emerging Europe region, ILGA-Europe's latest Rainbow Europe Map shows.
Regional leaders urge EU to speed up enlargement for entire Western Balkans
Presidents of Croatia, Slovenia and aspiring EU members from the Western Balkans say enlargement is a "geopolitical necessity".
Slovenian President Pahor supports EU enlargement of entire Western Balkans
Ahead of Slovenia's 6-month EU presidency Borut Pahor says only entry of all six countries to the bloc would provide peace and stability in the region
Money laundering pushes up property prices in Western Balkan cities
Real estate and construction sectors are being used to launder illicit money from the drugs trade and migrant trafficking, leading to a hike in prices, says Global Initiative report.
High representative warns Bosnian Serb leaders seek to split country
Valentin Inzko told the UN Security Council the challenge to Bosnia’s once multiethnic society is led by the Serb member of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, Milorad Dodik.
CONFERENCE CALL: Losing the Western Balkans
The EU’s slow and sometimes confusing response to the coronacrisis in the Western Balkans made room for China to increase its influence.
Commissioner Varhelyi brings first EU-donated vaccines on Western Balkans tour
Tour of the region is also aimed at supporting the Western Balkans countries’ EU integration processes.
Swiss ICT group ALSO acquires Serbia's PIN Computers
Acquisition of Novi Sad-based PIN Computers to help ALSO's expansion in Eastern Europe.
Subdued recovery expected in Western Balkans after pandemic ended a decade of progress
The Western Balkans countries can expect only moderate growth between 2021 and 2023 as the damage caused by coronavirus pandemic will continue to depress investments and employment, a World Bank report warned.
Climate change to amplify border tensions in Southeast Europe
OSCE report identifies border hotspots across the region where rising temperatures and more extreme weather events risk adding to border tensions.
British, Bosnian software developers form joint centre of excellence
Manchester-based anti-money laundering software company SQA Consulting and Luxembourg based ABC TECH Group set up SQA Consulting SEE in Bosnia, that will create 175 new jobs.
