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Albanie, Grèce, Monténégro... Cet été, beaucoup de pays des Balkans connaissent des incendies particulièrement dévastateurs. La région est exposée aux conséquences du dérèglement climatique, tandis que les États sont démunis pour faire face à de telles catastrophes. Tour d'horizon avec nos correspondant.e.s.

Podgorica, Bar, Budva, Bijelo Polje... Du littoral jusqu'aux montagnes du nord en passant par le centre du pays, tout le Monténégro est en proie depuis dimanche à des incendies géants. Un soldat a été tué mardi dans la zone de Kuči, un autre blessé.

À Zrenjanin, il n'y a pas d'eau potable, mais un festival. Les appels au boycott des 40ᵉ « Dani piva » se sont multipliés, tout comme à Odžaci ou Loznica où les festivals financés par les autorités locales sont accusés d'entretenir « l'illusion de la normalité » dans une Serbie secouée par une vague de contestation inédite.

La statue d'un commandant tchétnik responsable de massacres de civils musulmans durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale a été érigée, inaugurée puis finalement déplacée ce 8 août dans l'église du village de Gornje Zaostro, près de Berane, dans le nord du Monténégro.

La Slovène « Kukla » signe avec Fantasy un premier long-métrage hybride, entre drame social et esthétique de clip musical. Présenté à Locarno, le film suit trois jeunes femmes issues de l'immigration dans une petite ville conservatrice, confrontées aux carcans patriarcaux, aux traditions et à l'absence de perspectives. Porté par un casting multiculturel et la présence d'une héroïne transgenre, Fantasy aborde avec fraîcheur et sensibilité des thèmes rarement explorés dans le cinéma post-yougoslave. Entretien.

La Macédoine du Nord tente de se faire une place sur la carte touristique des Balkans. Malgré les succès d'Ohrid et une fréquentation en hausse, le pays peine à diversifier son offre et à fidéliser les visiteurs.

Voyage à reculons dans les Balkans occidentaux, Carnet de voyage, d'Ombeline Duprat, éditions Spinelle, 2025, 170 pages, 18 euros.

Le tourisme de croisière a le vent en poupe partout dans le monde. En Adriatique, ce sont de « nouvelles » destinations, comme l'Albanie et le Monténégro, qui connaissent les plus fortes progressions.

L'urbanisation incontrôlée et les constructions illégales menacent l'inscription du lac et de la ville d'Ohrid au classement du patrimoine mondial. L'Unesco laisse une dernière chance jusqu'au 1er février 2026, tout en exigeant un plan d'action et plus de coopération entre la Macédoine du Nord et l'Albanie.

In this merged edition of MORE, Bledar Feta and Çelik Rruplli examine the trajectory of Albania’s judicial reform, launched in 2016 as part of the country’s EU accession efforts and broader attempts to strengthen democracy, the rule of law, and public trust in institutions. A central component of the reform is the establishment of SPAK, the Special Anti-Corruption Structure, an independent judicial body tasked with investigating and prosecuting high-level corruption and organized crime.

Operational since late 2019, SPAK has filed charges against senior officials from both the current and former administrations. Public trust in the institution has grown significantly, with recent data from a Euronews Albania Barometer survey indicating that 52.1% of citizens now express confidence in SPAK, making it the most trusted institution in the country for the first time. Furthermore, 70.7% of respondents evaluated its performance positively, while both figures have risen by 10% since January 2025. High-profile cases including the arrest of Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj have further solidified SPAK’s credibility in the public eye. While this progress has contributed to Albania advancing its EU accession process, particularly in the areas of fundamental rights and the rule of law, major challenges remain. These include a shortage of magistrates, case backlogs, and perceptions of corruption that remain persistently high, despite signs of increased public cooperation with judicial institutions.

This paper is part of the Media Observatory Reports (MORE) and covers the period from October 2023 to February 2025. It highlights how media coverage of justice reform in Albania—particularly regarding SPAK—has been extensive but often polarized. While the media plays a vital role in shaping public understanding, it also tends to amplify political narratives, undermining objective scrutiny and contributing to confusion about the aims and progress of the reform. The Media Observatory Reports are part of the broader “ALGREE – Albania-Greece: Understanding. Connecting. Partnering” project implemented by the South-East Europe Programme of the Hellenic Foundation for Foreign & European Policy (ELIAMEP) with support from the Open Society Foundations Western Balkans (OSFWB) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Greece and Cyprus (FNF). They are based on the systematic monitoring and analysis of leading Greek and Albanian media, with a focus on how each country reports on the other as well as on issues of common interest.

You can read the paper in Greek, Albanian and English.

Issue de la communauté aroumaine de Macédoine du Nord, la linguiste Lila Kona s'inquiète de la lente disparition de sa langue maternelle, dernier pilier identitaire d'un peuple sans État. Elle appelle à la pleine reconnaissance d'une minorité tsintsare en Serbie, son pays d'adoption.

Issue de la communauté aroumaine de Macédoine du Nord, la linguiste Lila Kona s'inquiète de la lente disparition de sa langue maternelle, dernier pilier identitaire d'un peuple sans État. Elle appelle à la pleine reconnaissance d'une minorité tsintsare en Serbie, son pays d'adoption.

Vous avez construit une cabane de jardin ou un hôtel de luxe sans permis ? L'un et l'autre vont être éligibles aux procédures de légalisation, aux mêmes conditions. Les ONG dénoncent un projet de loi qui s'apparente à une capitulation de l'État face au fléau des constructions illégales.

Greta Thunberg était samedi dans la montagne de Kožuf pour prendre part à une manifestation contre la construction de petites centrales hydroélectriques sur la rivière Došnica. Alors que le gouvernement a prolongé d'un an le délai de construction accordé au concessionnaire, ce projet menace l'un des derniers écosystèmes intacts du pays.

En trois jours, deux hommes ont été exécutés à Podgorica, tandis que le maire de Budva était agressé sur une plage. Derrière cette flambée de violence, la guerre des clans criminels monténégrins refait surface, alors que les autorités sont accusées d'impuissance, voire de compromission.

The new ALGREE thematic report entitled “Mapping the dominant media frames between Greece and Albania and exploring alternative frames to override negative stereotypes” is a key output of the “ALGREE – Albania-Greece: Understanding. Connecting. Partnering” project. Authored by Panagiotis Paschalidis and Kriton Kuci, and implemented by the South-East Europe Programme of ELIAMEP, the study investigates the ways in which Greek and Albanian media portray the other’s country and proposes constructive counter-narratives to challenge negative stereotypes.

Using a mixed-method approach that combines quantitative content analysis with qualitative frame analysis, the report explores media coverage through six case studies focused on politically and socially sensitive topics, such as Albania’s EU accession process, the Greek minority in Albania, maritime border disputes, regional dynamics, economic cooperation, and the high-profile “Beleri case.” It examines both the tone and framing of news stories and highlights how political alignment often influences media narratives on both sides.

Its key findings include a persistent politicization of media discourse, a strong focus on conflict-laden narratives, and a lack of attention to positive themes such as culture, society, and economic cooperation. While some progress is noted—particularly regarding regional cooperation and perceptions of economic partnership—the presence of stereotypes remains a significant obstacle to balanced representation.

The report offers a series of recommendations aimed at depoliticizing media narratives and encouraging more nuanced and constructive reporting. By fostering alternative frames that promote mutual understanding, the study contributes to the broader goals of ALGREE in support of evidence-based dialogue, informed policy-making, and improved bilateral relations between Greece and Albania.

You can read the thematic report here.

Fermeture d'Al Jazeera Balkans, disparition de l'USAID, pressions croissantes sur les chaînes régionales... La liberté de la presse dans les Balkans occidentaux est aujourd'hui en péril, alors que les dernières voix indépendantes risquent de s'éteindre.

Fermeture d'Al Jazeera Balkans, disparition de l'USAID, pressions croissantes sur les chaînes régionales... La liberté de la presse dans les Balkans occidentaux est aujourd'hui en péril, alors que les dernières voix indépendantes risquent de s'éteindre.

The Transatlantic Periscope is an interactive, multimedia tool that brings together expert commentary, high-quality media coverage, official policy documents, quantitative data, social media posts, and gray literature. It will provide on a monthly basis a summary of the most important news concerning the Greek-US relations, as reflected in the media. Below you will find an overview for June 2025.

On June 5, 2025, the 15th Bilateral Military Cooperation between the Hellenic Navy and the United States Navy was held in Athens. The Greek delegation was headed by Commodore Stefanos Sarris HN, Director of Branch A, while the U.S. delegation was led by Rear Admiral Patrick S. Hayden, Director Maritime Headquarters (DMHQ), U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa. Discussions addressed issues of mutual interest and strengthening cooperation for stability and development in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region. On the sidelines of the talks, the head of the U.S. delegation held a brief meeting with the Deputy Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Rear Admiral Spyridon Lagaras HN.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the U.S. State Department is formally moving forward with the nomination of Kimberly Guilfoyle as the next American ambassador to Greece, undercutting widespread media speculation that she had declined the post. In a move that clarifies the administration’s intent, the State Department issued on June 18 an official “Certificate of Competency” for the nomination, a standard step preceding a confirmation hearing in the U.S. Senate. Guilfoyle is set to appear before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 9, 2025, as part of her confirmation process to become the next U.S. Ambassador to Greece.

During his visit to Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland from June 12 to 18, 2025, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yannis Loverdos conveyed a message of support from the Greek government to the Greek American community and of strengthening ties with Greeks abroad. During the visit, he had a series of meetings with prominent members of the Greek-American in several fields and informed them about the Greek government’s initiatives for the Greeks abroad.

At the NATO Summit, on June 25, 2025, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis held a high-level meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underscoring the growing importance of Greek-American cooperation in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio emphasized Greece’s role as a reliable NATO ally and a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. He acknowledged the importance of Greece’s contributions to regional security, while Minister Gerapetritis praised U.S. efforts to de-escalate tensions in the broader Middle East. Both officials reaffirmed their intent to further deepen bilateral strategic relations.

According to Vassilis Nedos (Kathimerini), an undisclosed number of Greek Patriot missile systems are being relocated to the Hellenic Navy and NATO base at Souda Bay, Crete, to provide anti-ballistic protection to American assets in the region. The move comes amid increased U.S. military activity in the area following the escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict. Several U.S. F-16 fighter jets have also been temporarily deployed to Crete ahead of their participation in the upcoming “Anatolian Eagle” exercise in Turkey in early July.

More at: https://transatlanticperiscope.org/relationship/GR#

• The imposition of higher tariffs by President Trump or the threat to do so, while seemingly contradicting economic orthodoxy is not out of sync with the President’s view of the world.

• Tariffs are used as bargaining tool to force US trading partners into bilateral negotiations.

• A so-called “Mar-a-Lago Accord”, in the spirit of the 1985 Plaza Accord, could, in Trump’s view, help in responding to the key challenges of the American economy.

• According to the existing literature, the potential effects of higher US tariffs on the EU are going to be small to medium (0.10%-0.66%).

• Macroeconomic projections by the IMF, which combine the effects of higher tariffs with uncertainty and tighter financial conditions, place the medium-term effect for the EU at 1.75% of GDP.

• The effect of US trade policy uncertainty (TPU) on EU GDP with a two-standard deviation increase of TPU will be up to a drop of EU GDP by 0.73% after three years (the cumulative loss reaching 6.49%).

Read here in pdf the Policy paper by Panagiotis Konstantinou, Assistant Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business; Spyros Blavoukos, Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business; Head of the ‘Arian Contellis’ European Programme, ELIAMEP and Panagiota Pagoni, Research Assistant, ELIAMEP.