Balkans

OPINION balkans : Anderlecht, Molenbeek, Schaarbeek: spot the crime in Brussels

Anderlecht, Molenbeek, Schaarbeek: spot the crime in Brussels

Petty crime and unemployment rates (17.6%) are high in inner city Brussels, which registers a low violent crime rate in Europe. Nevertheless, police arrested 12 Belgian Albanians linked to a crime gang on 15 February*, whilst certain districts remain dangerous. Is this down to the crisis?

by Thimi Samarxhiu @ , cafebabel.com // 01/03/10 - 4 Comment - 9 votes

balkans, eu crisis on the ground, economical crisis, cities, unemployment, sex, brussels

DEBATE balkans : Dismantled: five myths about Kosovo

Dismantled: five myths about Kosovo

On 17 February, Europe’s youngest country celebrates its second anniversary. Presumably, most still wouldn't find Kosovo on a map. We regularly read about its soldiers, organised crime and demand for visas. Two roommates in Prishtina – a Kosovar and a German – share their most striking and basic common observations

by Martin Wählisch @ , Behar Xharra @ // 17/02/10 - 3 Comment - 57 votes

balkans, documentary, religion, economy, war, travel, nightlife

REVIEW balkans : Art in Slovenia: Eclipse is an 'open vagina nibbling at things'

Art in Slovenia: Eclipse is an 'open vagina nibbling at things'

The anonymous art collective admit they don't 'fit the norms': they use everything from pigs’ heads to world war weaponry to get across their message of social criticism. Ten years on, the female duo from Ljubljana have just finished the final works for their new exhibition '10 – Of Blasphemy We Are Guilty'. We discuss erotic nudes, kitsch art and their being questioned by police for offending the catholic church

by Kristina Bozic @ // 22/01/10 - 3 Comment - 14 votes

balkans, sex, photo, ljubljana, photography, josip broz tito, culture calendar

FEATURE balkans : Sofia's directors and playwrights boom despite barebone budgets

Sofia's directors and playwrights boom despite barebone budgets

In Bulgaria there are no cultural policy programmes and the crisis has consumed the ministry coffers. Filmmakers like Kamen Kalev, playwrights and other creative minds demand government transparency and methods to support their enterprising spirit. Part one of a five part 'EU crisis on the ground' city series

by Ariadna Matamoros Fernàndez @ // 04/01/10 - 3 votes

balkans, cinema, contemporary art, economical crisis, culture, europe on the ground, youth

Gallery

Image : How to get to Srebrenica - if it still exists (12 images)

How to get to Srebrenica - if it still exists (12 images)

TESTIMONY balkans : Young, Roma and European: 'my children's lives will be better than mine'

Young, Roma and European: 'my children's lives will be better than mine'

While the problems of Europe’s biggest minority seem endless, the EU aims to offer some hope despite ‘much talk and little action.’ Testimonies from Roma Europeans, European Roma

by Andreu Jerez Ríos @ // 08/07/09 - 1 Comment

balkans, enlargement, berlin, testimony, ethnic minority, roma, european union

PORTRAIT balkans : Albania: polit-tourism between coves and concrete beach bunkers

Albania: polit-tourism between coves and concrete beach bunkers

At the confluence of the Adriatic and Ionean Seas lies Albania, Europe’s last undiscovered paradise is now looking to tourism to stimulate its economy and is hoping for a better image in the west after having joined Nato and put in an EU bid. 20 years after the fall of the dictatorship, Albania is developing into a hidden gem for independent travellers

by n- ost @ // 28/06/09 - 7 Comment

balkans, enlargement, tirana, dictature, nato, tourism, sali berisha

Gallery

Image : Sofia's discreet Turkish minority

Sofia's discreet Turkish minority

FEATURE balkans : Bulgaria: energy in transition

Bulgaria: energy in transition

Bulgaria was the member state most affected by the gas crisis of January 2009. It is currently dealing with problems of corruption, the old dependence on Russia for energy, questions of national pride and 'the stupid decisions' in Brussels - not forgetting ecology

by Pedro Picón @ // 31/03/09 - 2 Comment

balkans, energía nuclear, renewable energies, corruption, energy, european elections 2009, past enlargements

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Balkans in the babelblogs

EU's Community Initiatives would bring Europe closer to its people

“Blogactiv.eu” –article, posted by “Challenge for Europe” on 19th June 2009  highlights the importance of EU’s Community Initiatives as most successful popular direct contacts between the EU institutions and the citizens in their local communities. “The EU mobilized European citizens in getting together, discovering sustainable practices elsewhere, while ...

AriRusila by AriRusila on arirusila

Global Peace Rank - Balkans & Black Sea

The results of the Global Peace Index for 2009 suggest that the world has become slightly less peaceful in the past year, which appears to reflect the intensification of violent conflict in some countries and the effects of both the rapidly rising food and fuel prices early in 2008 and ...

AriRusila by AriRusila on arirusila

Balkans: Stop Mastermind – give Change to Locals

In March, Mrs. Clinton – FM/USA - commented in Brussels that the Obama administration was "determined to listen, advise (European Union countries) and through agreement arrive at wise solution to common challenges." Among the "common challenges" was that the "Balkans is in danger of becoming part of the forgotten past." She ...

AriRusila by AriRusila on arirusila

Votes for Sale in EP election?

A common utterance “money talks” is sometimes used also related to elections.One could suppose that if voting matters the parties or candidates are investing more to win elections.Normal marketing is sometimes not guaranteeing enough votes so in many societies more crude means are used such as election fraud ...

AriRusila by AriRusila on arirusila

EU's Kosovo mission widening - Minority situation worsening

The new report made by Minority Rights Group International (MRG) gives a bare picture about worsening situation of minority rights in today’s Kosovo.  Instead to return to their homes after ethnic cleansing implemented by Kosovo Albanians after Nato intervention 1999 minorities are beginning to leave Kosovo, because they face ...

AriRusila by AriRusila on arirusila