Balkan Legal News - 2 February 2024

The following media round-up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 26 January 2024 to 2 February 2024. Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates with a focus on Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.

Hungary - 1 February 2024

Leaders from the European Union unanimously agreed to a four-year 50 billion-euro aid package for Ukraine as Hungary, which vetoed the deal in December, fell into line with the other 26 member states, ending weeks of wrangling over the move; see here.

Kosovo - 1 February 2024

A draft law requiring online media that produce videos to apply for licensing has drawn criticism from local and international media organisations, which accuse the government of attempting to put them under state control; see here.

Kosovo - 1 February 2024

After a month of hearings at the trial of Kosovo’s ex-President Hashim Thaci in The Hague that have mainly been closed to the public, experts warned that this will boost suspicions about the war crimes court back in Kosovo; see here.

Greece - 1 February 2024

Greek MPs will debate a government bill next month that will extend the rights offered to same-sex couples and parents, but stops short of full equality; see here.

Albania - 1 February 2024

Italy's detention deal with Albania breaches international law and is abusive in many aspects, including by potentially creating legal limbo for vulnerable people. Yet, the plan to detain in Albania people interdicted or rescued by Italy in the Mediterranean Sea looks set to go ahead; see here.

Croatia - 31 January 2024

Hundreds of reporters gathered in the Croatian capital on Wednesday, protesting against a draft law imposing prison terms for those who leak details of police investigations, accusing the government of trying to block reports about corruption; see here.

Kosovo - 31 January 2024

The government offers an undefined transition period for Kosovo Serbs to start using the euro, while vowing to stick to the plan of drawing them into Kosovo's financial system; see here.

Romania - 30 January 2024 Corruption in Western Europe and the entire European Union is worsening, according to the 2023 Transparency International report on the fight against corruption. Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria are ranked as the most corrupt in Europe in the same report; see here.

Serbia - 30 January 2024

Serbia is considering reintroducing compulsory military service, its president said Tuesday, citing tensions in the Balkans and elsewhere in Europe. President Aleksandar Vučić said top army commanders gave him "a strong argumentation" in favour of the reintroduction of a mandatory draft; see here.

Montenegro - 27 January 2024

Legal expert Milorad Markovic has been appointed the country's new Supreme State Prosecutor, more than two years after the former prosecutor, Ivica Stankovic, retired; see here.