Change of government in Pristina

The Kosovo opposition – the leftist Self-Determination Party and the center-right Democratic League of Kosovo have won the parliamentary elections. For the first time in Pristina, young politicians who do not come from the ranks of the former Kosovo Liberation Army take the rule. Whoever takes power in Kosovo faces the problem of relations with Serbia. After normalizing these relations, Kosovo may become a member of the UN, but in order to resume negotiations with Belgrade, Kosovo must first abolish the imposed 100 percent duty taxes on Serbian goods.

President Erdogan encourages Belgrade-Sarajevo relations

Tripartite cooperation between Turkey, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is the focus of the official visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Serbia this week. He is to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ankara-funded highway from Belgrade to Sarajevo. During the visit, Erdogan will open 6 factories of Turkish companies and will attend a groundbreaking ceremony for another one. Through a video conference the Turkish President will also open projects implemented by the Turkish State Agency for Cooperation and Development, among which is the restored Ottoman fortress Ram.

The Pentagon receives new strategic bases in Greece

Greece and the US have signed agreements in the fields of defense, economy and energy. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Washington should use its influence to reduce tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus and Turkey are in dispute over the exploitation of gas fields. In addition to the large naval and air bases in the Gulf of Suda, the Pentagon will now be able to use drone airfields in Larissa and the port of Alexandroupolis. The Middle East, Southeastern Europe and Ukraine are within their reach.

Skopje and Athens negotiating over “Macedonia” brand

The joint commission between Greece and North Macedonia has started work on controversial trademark issues. According to the Prespa Agreement, within 3 years Skopje and Athens must decide on the way they would use trademarks, geographical indications and brand names containing the terms "Macedonia" or "Macedonian". Georgi Filipov, co-chairman of the Macedonian side, acknowledged that it was normal for Greece, as a larger economy that is part of the EU, to have more "Macedonian" brands. The companies from North Macedonia have 344 internationally registered brands and only 5 of them contain the name Macedonia. The country has only 5 internationally registered products with Macedonian geographical indications.

Government crisis in Romania

Following the rejection of Romania's Commissioner-designate, a parliamentary no-confidence vote on the Romanian government will take place on Thursday in Bucharest. The request has been signed by 237 MPs, while 233 votes are needed to topple the cabinet. Prime MinisterViorica Dăncilă, who is threatened by a discord in her own Social Democratic Party, has said that if she lost power, she would work even harder in opposition to win the presidential election.

Compiled by: Ivo Ivanov

English: Alexander Markov