Balkan developments

Bucharest declares energy crisis, seeks EU extension for coal-fired power plant

Romania has asked the European Commission and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) to conduct a new regional assessment to support the country amid the worsening energy situation. The request comes against the backdrop of the shutdown of Unit 2 of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant due to the continuing low water levels of the Danube.

State Secretary for Energy Cristian Bușoi said Bucharest wants to know how much electricity neighboring countries could provide if Romania’s domestic generation were restricted. Speaking to the European Commission’s Electricity Coordination Group, Bușoi also asked Romania to be allowed to retain its coal-fired generation capacity at the Oltenia Energy Complex. Under Romania’s commitments to the EU, Unit 5 of the Turceni Power Plant is due to be shut down by August 31, Digi24.ro reports.

Law grants amnesty to PKK militants who give up their weapons

The Turkish parliament has passed legislation aimed at the reintegration into society of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants as part of a peace process that began two years ago, Anadolu Agency reports.

The law provides for the return to civilian life of PKK members who surrender their weapons, but does not establish a blanket amnesty after more than 40 years of armed conflict. Those wishing to benefit from the law will have six months to do so.

The legislation does not address broader Kurdish demands for expanded political and cultural rights or changes to Turkey’s counterterrorism laws. The PKK-linked ANF news agency described the law as a “beginning,” but said it contains “serious shortcomings and gaps.”

The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.

After three snap elections, Kosovo still has no functioning regular parliament

Kosovo risks losing millions of euros in EU funding allocated under the Western Balkans Growth Plan because of the political crisis and institutional deadlock, Radio Free Europe reports.

Two months after the June 7 snap parliamentary elections, Kosovo’s 11th parliament in Pristina remains caught in a procedural crisis. The Self-Determination Movement has 53 of the 120 seats, while the Democratic Party of Kosovo holds 22, the Democratic League of Kosovo 18, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo 7. Representatives of ethnic minorities hold 10 seats.

Before proceeding with the election of a parliamentary speaker and the country’s president, Self-Determination is demanding the signing of a governing agreement. The opposition has rejected the demand and has boycotted parliamentary sessions, with verbal and physical confrontations breaking out in the chamber.

Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić threatens to alter the flow of the Ibar River

“Because of the harassment of Serbs in Kosovo, we are considering changing the course of the Ibar River in Serbia,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said.

He added that engineers and specialists had already been brought in to examine the possibility of restricting the flow of water to Kosovo, BTA reports. Kosovo’s acting president, Vjosa Osmani, described the idea as “absurd” and “chauvinistic.”

The Ibar feeds the Gazivoda Reservoir, and seven municipalities receive water from the river. In addition to irrigation, its waters are used to cool the Obilić power plant, which produces most of Kosovo’s electricity.

The European Commission, the United States, and Albania have criticized the threat. Brussels said that such actions would not contribute to the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Greeks abroad urged to register as voters

Greeks living abroad can now register to vote in the next parliamentary elections through a new online portal, The Greek Herald reports.

Under recently adopted legislation, voters abroad will be able to cast their ballots by mail or in person at designated polling stations outside Greece. Previous registrations for the 2023 elections are no longer valid, while registrations for the 2024 European Parliament elections remain valid only for voting within the EU.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged Greeks living abroad to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming elections, expected in spring 2027, BGNES reports.

Compiled by Ivo Ivanov