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.

Amid rising far-right sentiment, Romanian authorities are tightening laws against extremist propaganda, leading to complaints of censorship.

Firefighters and volunteers have been battling to contain wildfires that have broken out in the last 24 hours on the Greek islands of Chios and Crete.

Download this e-book collection of Balkan Insight’s reports telling the story of the mass protest movement in Serbia from November 2024 to May 2025.

Romania’s President Nicusor Dan (L) and designated Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan (C) shake hands at the end of a joint media statement at Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania, 20 ...

The city of Niksic. Photo: Wikipedia/Janusz Recław. The suspected remains of three members of the Klapuh family – killed in 1992 after fleeing the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina – were exhumed ...

Supporters of the LGBTQ+ movement attend Gay Pride in Zagreb, Croatia, September 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/ANTONIO BAT. In a report published on Monday, the Council of Europe’s anti-racism commission ...

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 ...

Twenty years ago, a union launched an uphill battle to take over their failing machine-tool factory and return it to the workers. Today, they savour the fruits of that victory.

Iranian women take part during a protest against Israeli airstrikes in Tehran, Iran, 13 June 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH. Balkan countries voiced dismay over the implications of ...