Balkan developments

New railway project in Istanbul to carry 33 million passengers annually

The World Bank has granted Türkiye ЕUR 1.67 billion for the construction of a 127-kilometer rail line linking the European and Asian parts of Istanbul via a new route across the Bosphorus Strait. The “Istanbul Northern Rail Crossing” project aims to ease traffic and improve freight and passenger connections in the city, which is a key logistics hub between the two continents, Anadolu Agency reported, as cited by BTA.

The line, which will bypass central Istanbul, is expected to carry 33 million passengers and 30 million tons of cargo annually, linking major transport points, including Istanbul’s airports.

According to the World Bank, the project is expected to create up to 414,000 jobs and support manufacture, agriculture and services. Total external financing for the project is expected to reach USD 6.75 billion.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister: Dissolving Parliament is not a solution

The political crisis in Kosovo over the election of a president continues. The term of the current president, Vjosa Osmani, expires on April 5. By midnight on March 5, the country’s Parliament was supposed to elect a head of state, but the session did not take place due to a lack of quorum. The following day, Osmani issued a decree dissolving Parliament. The Constitutional Court ruled that Osmani’s decree has no legal effect and gave the lawmakers the opportunity to complete the procedure by April 28.

Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti criticized the president for issuing the decree, which blocked the work of Parliament for 20 days. “Dissolving Parliament is not a tool for overcoming political difficulties”, Albin Kurti said. He emphasized that the people had expressed their will in the early parliamentary elections on December 28, and that this will should not be overturned by decrees, regardless of deadline pressures. He called on lawmakers to elect a head of state in order to avoid a new parliamentary vote.

Journalists from the closed Radio “Free Europe” in Skopje are launching a new media outlet

Journalists from the Radio “Free Europe” office in North Macedonia, which was closed at the end of March, are launching a new news website – “Kolegium.mk”, the Union of Bulgarian Journalists (UBJ) reported. “Our goal is not merely to be another news source, but a team that seeks answers when they are being withheld, investigates where there is doubt, and creates a space for informed public debate”, the journalists stated.

In March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order reducing the activities of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees outlets such as Radio “Free Europe/Radio Liberty” (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA).

Greece seeks workers from Vietnam due to a labor shortage

Greece and Vietnam are enhancing cooperation in the labor sector. At a meeting in Athens, Vietnamese Ambassador to Greece Pham Thi Thu Huong and Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum Athanasios (Thanos) Plevris discussed a future memorandum of understanding that would establish a legal framework for the lawful labor migration of Vietnamese workers to Greece and the protection of their rights in accordance with the laws of both countries, BTA reported.

According to statistics, approximately 1,500 Vietnamese currently hold valid work permits in Greece, including both seasonal or long-term workers. Vietnamese workers are highly valued by Greek employers for their hard work and adaptability. Through several similar bilateral agreements, Greece is seeking to attract foreign labor to meet economic needs and support the development of its economy.

Montenegro builds free internet through an EU-funded project

Free internet is now available at certain public locations in the Montenegrin cities of Danilovgrad, Rožaje, Bijelo Polje, Ulcinj, Bar, and Tivat. By September, the service is expected to cover a total of 24 municipalities, BTA reported, citing the MINA agency. The project is part of the WiFi4WB initiative, co-financed by the European Union and the Government of Germany and implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) under the EU4Digital program. The telecommunications operator One Montenegro is a strategic partner in building the network.

The initiative began in February in Danilovgrad and is gradually expanding. Minister of Public Administration Maraš Dukaj emphasized that internet access “is not a luxury” and that the initiative aims to reduce the digital divide.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov