Nationalist leaders could exacerbate tensions in the Western Balkans, US intelligence community report says

The Western Balkans probably will face an increased risk of localized interethnic violence during 2024, according to the annual threat assessment report of the US intelligence community. “Nationalist leaders are likely to exacerbate tension for their political advantage and outside actors will reinforce and exploit ethnic differences to increase or protect their regional influence or thwart greater Balkan integration into the EU or Euro–Atlantic institutions,” the report reads, and goes on “clashes between Serb nationalists and Kosovar authorities have led to deaths and injuries, including injuries to NATO peacekeepers, in 2023.” 
“Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik is taking provocative steps to neutralize international oversight in Bosnia and secure de facto secession for his Republika Srpska. His action could prompt leaders of the Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) population to bolster their own capacity to protect their interests and possibly lead to violent conflicts that could overwhelm peacekeeping forces,” the annual threat assessment report of the US intelligence community reads.

European Commission greenlights the opening of EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina

The European Commission recommended to open EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and the adoption, by the Council of the negotiating framework once Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken further steps in line with the Commission's report. Since the European Council granted candidate status to the country in December 2022, the public commitment of the political leadership to the strategic goal of European integration was taken forward by important reforms and have brought positive result, the European Commission says. Bosnia and Herzegovina has shown strong commitment to move forward on long pending reforms such as the adoption of the law on the prevention of conflict of interests and the law on anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing. Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken significant steps to improve the judiciary and prosecutorial system, the fight against corruption, organised crime and terrorism and to improve migration management. Bosnia and Herzegovina has reached and maintained full alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, which is a significant positive step and crucial in these times of geopolitical turmoil, reads the report posted to the European Commission website.

Ruling party and opposition in Albanian parliament come to an agreement

The ruling Socialist Party of Albania and the Reestablishment faction of the opposition Democratic Party of Albania have agreed on convening two parliamentary committees, thus effectively putting an end to the parliamentary crisis resulting from the opening of a passive corruption investigation against former prime minister and president Sali Berisha. In December,Berisha refused to comply with the prosecutor’s office measure, and the authorities put him under house arrest, and the majority stripped him of his immunity as a member of parliament. According to the leader of the Democratic Party Gazment Bardhi, the crisis came about after the ruling party refused to convene two parliamentary committees in December, as demanded by the opposition. As a form of protest, the MPs from the Democratic Party boycotted the work of parliament, set off smoke bombs and started a fire in parliament.

European Commission refers Greece to Court of Justice of EU for failure to fiknalize the revision of its water plans

The European Commission announced it has decided to refer Greece to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failure to finalise the revision of its river basin management plans and of its flood risk management plans. Five months ago the fertile Thessaly valley was flooded by heavy rains, destroying crops and cattle and raising the question of Greece’s ability to address climate change. Member States must update and report their river basin management plans every six years. Greece has so far not reviewed, adopted nor reported its river basin management plans, the European Commission says. In 2023, the EC officially notified Greece it must adopt its plans. The European Commission has also referred Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spain, Ireland, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia to the Court of Justice of the EU for the same reason.

Millions of Romanians make hoax emergency calls

Ghosts in the garden, pain in their nails, heavy traffic or insomnia – these are just some of the bizarre reasons why Romanians have dialed emergency number 112 in 2023, Digi24 writes. Such calls account for half of all registered calls, or a total of five million in number. The most bizarre calls include not being able to get to the airport on time because of heavy traffic, some dialed 112 out of curiosity – to check if anyone will pick up the phone, others to complain of power outages, or to say they didn’t have money for a taxi.  But one of the most widespread reasons for calling the emergency number is the urge to insult someone.

Compiled by Ivo Ivanov

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova

Photos:cnn.com, parliament al, AP, Reuters,  playtech.ro