From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows.

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more.

A partly ripped electoral poster of right-wing AUR party leader George Simion, covered with a sticker that reads 'Death to Fascism!'. Photo: EPA-EFE/ROBERT GHEMENT. Romania Moves to Confront ...

Forest fire on Chios island, Greece, 22 June 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE/KOSTAS KOURGIAS. Greek Holiday Islands Caught in Wildfires Eleni Stamatoukou Athens BIRN June 23, 202512:03 Eleni Stamatoukou ...

Serbia sent record amounts of arms to Israel last year. But President Aleksandar Vucic said that since Israel attacked Iran, such exports have been stopped.

President Nicusor Dan on Friday designated Ilie Bolojan, leader of the National Liberal Party, PNL, as Romania’s next prime minister. The announcement ended nearly a month of negotiations ...

In a statement responding to this recording, Giertych speculated there might be another reason why the right-wing media published the material now. “As for the timing of publication, I think it ...

Remains believed to belong to three members of a Bosniak family killed in 1992 after they fled to Montenegro to escape the war in Bosnia have been exhumed in the city of Niksic.

The Council of Europe’s anti-racism commission welcomed positive progress but warned that significant challenges to inclusion in Croatia remain. Supporters of the LGBTQ+ movement attend Gay ...

North Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry issued a travel warning and advised its citizens in Israel and Iran to follow national emergency portals there and follow the instructions of these countries ...

Our selection of Premium stories looks at the political challenges, deadlocks and cliff-hanger elections that the region has seen this week. Romanian President Nicusor Dan addresses media in ...

Elsewhere, Fidesz withdraws Kremlin-style ‘censorship’ bill – for now; bizarre bitcoin scandal shakes Czech government months from election; and Slovak president backs rise in NATO spending.