Balkan developments

NATO tests new 'no U.S.' mission model in Balkans

NATO is testing its ability to deploy rapidly across Eastern Europe - without direct US support - as Washington shifts its approach to European defence and the war in Ukraine, the Associated Press reports. The six-week Steadfast Dart 2025 exercises in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece are taking place as Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches the three-year mark. They involve some 10,000 troops from nine nations, including regional rivals Greece and Turkey. It is the biggest NATO operation planned this year.

The absence of the US from the exercises comes as European nations scramble to build greater military self-sufficiency amid concerns about the Trump administration's commitment to common defence and calls for increased European military spending, AP notes.

Serbian president: Protesters pushing Vojvodina towards separatism

Amid months of protests and blockades, authorities in Serbia have announced the adoption of a 'people's declaration' for Vojvodina, an autonomous province in the north of the country, in response to alleged separatist initiatives during the protests, Radio Free Europe reports.

A declaration on Vojvodina will be adopted at a mass meeting on 15 February, announced by President Aleksandar Vučić, "to guarantee Vojvodina's place within Serbia". In recent weeks, there have been renewed initiatives to grant Vojvodina the maximum possible autonomy, Vučić wrote on Instagram. In his words, they are "an attempt to abuse the youth of the country - from making Vojvodina a republic, to talking about the Vojvodina language, to the idea of separating Vojvodina from Serbia".

The Serbian Presidency did not respond to Radio Free Europe's enquiry about the exact motives behind the adoption of the above-mentioned declaration. Representatives of the non-governmental sector told the media outlet that they described the declaration as a government strategy to divide the protest.

Self-determination party wins Kosovo elections, but will need partners to govern

Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) party has won 40.84% of the vote in Kosovo's parliamentary elections. The main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, won 22.05%. The opposition Democratic Union of Kosovo received 17.67%. The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo came fourth with 7.45%. The largest Kosovo Serb party, the Serbian List, won 4.55% of the vote. Albanian parties have 100 seats in the 120-member parliament. The remaining 20 seats are shared by minorities, 10 of which are reserved for Serbs, reports BGNES.

The Self-Determination Party has taken a hard line on Belgrade's refusal to recognise Kosovo's independence, and has strained relations with the US and the EU over its refusal to establish the Association of Serb Municipalities in Northern Kosovo. Kosovo media comment that the movement will not be able to form a government on its own.

Tirana mayor arrested for passive corruption after 10 years in power

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has no intention of resigning following the arrest of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, who is believed to have close ties to him. The mayor of the capital is a leading figure in the ruling Socialist Party and an associate of Rama. Veliaj has been mayor of Tirana since 2015.

The mayor was arrested on the orders of the Special Prosecutor's Office. The Special Court for the Fight against Corruption and Organised Crime issued a pre-trial detention order against his wife.

"There is a reasonable suspicion that Erion Veliaj and his wife are involved in passive corruption and money laundering in at least 10 cases," the prosecutor's office said. The prosecutor's office has also ordered five businessmen to be placed under "judicial surveillance" on suspicion of "actively corrupting local and state officials", Euronews Albania reports.

Turkish regulator fines footwear corporation over use of pigskin in its products

The Advertising Council of the Turkish Ministry of Trade has fined the famous sportswear and footwear company Adidas for failing to disclose the use of pigskin in one of its products on its official Turkish website, according to the Hurriyet Daily News.

The Council's investigation found that while foreign websites explicitly state that one of Adidas' shoe models contains pigskin, the brand's official Turkish website only mentions "natural leather" without providing further information. The Council ruled that advertisements must clearly state whether a product contains materials that may conflict with the social and religious sensitivities of society.

The Council fined the corporation 550,059 Turkish Liras, or more than 14,000 euros, and ordered the suspension of the relevant advertisements.

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