Balkan Developments

Montenegro celebrates 20 years of independence

At a solemn ceremony for the 20th anniversary since the restoration of Montenegro's independence, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said that the country has never been closer to the idea of ​​a European Montenegro and accession to the EU, N1 TV reports. He also pointed out that "a united Europe may be the last truly peaceful project in the world." According to him, the strength of a state is not based on territory, army or "artificial unity", but on the ability of citizens to transform their differences into a common vision and implement it. The ceremony was also attended by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić did not accept the invitation to participate in the celebration. "I admit, we are guilty and I apologize for loving you more than you loved us," Vučić wrote in a letter to the citizens of Montenegro.

Skopje shows different attitudes towards Serbian and Albanian demonstrations

Albanian law students protested at universities in North Macedonia demanding that their law exam be held in Albanian. Albania's ambassador to Skopje, Denion Meidani, was summoned to the foreign ministry over a comment on Facebook that the country had not allowed students from Albania to join their colleagues in Skopje and Tetovo. "The government has no intention of intervening or interfering in the internal and independent politics of any country," said North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. His words were on the occasion of the rally in Kumanovo announced for May 23 in support of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, BTA reports. The opposition said this was a double standard and asked how the authorities in Skopje would react if a pro-Bulgarian rally was held in the country.

Türkiye proposes military fuel pipeline through Bulgaria to Romania

Türkiye has proposed building a $1.2 billion fuel pipeline for military purposes from Türkiye to Romania via Bulgaria, Bloomberg has reported. A decision on the Turkish proposal is expected at the alliance's summit in Ankara on July 7-8. Bloomberg commented that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and disruptions in energy supplies caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are forcing NATO to strengthen its model for securing fuel supplies on its eastern flank. Ankara says the proposed underground route would be five times cheaper than a route through Greece, which Türkiye considers more vulnerable due to its high dependence on sea supplies.

Janez Janša secures parliamentary majority to become Slovenia's prime minister

The Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), The Democrats, the New Slovenia coalition (NSi), the Slovenian People's Party (SLS) and Focus have signed a coalition agreement to form a government, Slovenian national television rtvslo.si reported. The coalition talks were held behind closed doors. SDS leader Janez Janša has been nominated as Slovenia's prime minister after securing support for a potential ruling coalition. In the vote in March, his party finished second with 28 seats, just behind the liberal Freedom Movement of outgoing Prime Minister Robert Golob, which won 29 seats but failed to form a governing majority.

Greece's demographic crisis is deepening rapidly

"Greek women are giving birth to fewer and fewer children and every year the population of a large city in the country dies," Byron Kotzamanis, Research Director at the Institute for Demographic Research and Studies, has told ERT television. "We have a serious problem at the national level, which is becoming even more serious at the local level, especially in mountainous and semi-mountainous regions," Kotzamanis said. For half a century, births have fallen from 145,000 per year to 65,000. In the past, families had two or more children, but now every woman in Greece has an average of 1.5 children. Calculations show that the money needed to raise a child from birth to adulthood is between 215,000 and 233,000 euros. This means between 11,942 and 13,000 euros per year, or 995 – 1,083 euros per month, local media calculate.

Compiled by: Ivo Ivanov