Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks

There are growing tensions around mining, environmental justice, and large-scale investment projects in the Western Balkans. As the region becomes increasingly important for Europe’s green transition and real estate development, local communities are raising concerns about environmental degradation, opaque decision-making, and the weakening of democratic safeguards. The episode explores cases ranging from Rio Tinto’s lithium project in Serbia and the Vareš mining project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Belgrade Waterfront and Velika Plaža in Montenegro, asking how these projects reshape local governance and public trust — and whether corrosive forms of capital are no longer associated only with non-Western actors. The discussion features Vedran Džihić (Senior Researcher at OIIP and BiEPAG member), Barbara Frey (MSCA PF Fellow at the University of Rijeka), and Iliriana Gjoni (Research Analyst at Carnegie Europe), and is moderated by Tena Prelec (Assistant Professor at the University of Rijeka and BiEPAG member). Referenced reports: Džihić, V. and Kmezić, M., "Mining in the Western Balkans: How to counter authoritarian extractivism?", BiEPAG, March 2026. https://www.biepag.eu/publication/mining-in-the-western-balkans-how-to-counter-authoritarian-extractivism Gjoni, I. et al. "Rules or Deals? The EU’s Challenge in Regulating Corrosive Capital in the Western Balkans", Carnegie Europe, December 2025. https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/research/2025/12/rules-or-deals-the-eus-challenge-in-regulating-corrosive-capital-in-the-western-balkans Prelec, T. et al., “Foreign Influence Challenges: Corrosive Capital and Disinformation in the Western Balkans and Associated Trio”, GEO-POWER-EU, November 2025. https://geo-power.eu/portfolio/item/d3-3-i-foreign-influence-challenges-corrosive-capital-and-disinformation-in-the-western-balkans-and-associated-trio/ Bassuener, K. et al., “The Vareš Mining Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Case Study of Corrosive Capital in an Already Corroded Political Economy”, GEO-POWER-EU, April 2026. https://geo-power.eu/news/d3-3-i-the-vares-mining-project-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina-a-case-study-of-corrosive-capital-in-an-already-corroded-political-economy/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On April 12th, 2026, parliamentary elections in Hungary resulted in a landslide victory for the opposition Tisza party of Peter Magyar, ousting the incumbent Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party after 16 years in government. The Hungarian elections were closely followed by media outlets throughout Southeast Europe. The change in government will greatly impact all countries of the region, especially in terms of support for illiberal and autocratic leaders who have so far enjoyed a warm welcome in Budapest. The discussion features Eszter Kováts, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Vienna, and Zsolt Kerner, journalist at 24.hu, and is moderated by Damir Kapidžić, BiEPAG member. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than a year of protests, resistance and demonstrations have confronted the authoritarian rule of Aleksandar Vučić. This episode of Seriously Balkans reflects on the status of the resistance, the prospects for democratic change and the options for the European Union. While the main protests have subsided, Serbia remains in a permanent state of emergency. This is no longer controlled by the regime, which is confronted with local acts of resistance and a mobilised population. It remains unclear when, or whether, elections will be held in 2026; a return to the unconditional dominance of the ruling SNS seems unlikely. The authors of the BiEPAG policy brief “Lessons from the 2024–25 Protests”, Nikola Burazer, Marina Vulović, and Jelena Vasiljević, present their key findings.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2025 we saw fractures emerging in the transatlantic alliance as the second Trump administration pushed a new foreign policy vision focused on a sovereigntist understanding of spheres of influence. Repeatedly Europe, and foremost the European Union, have been sidelined as partners and often depicted as adversaries. We explore the implications of this emerging transatlantic rift on the countries and region of the Western Balkans. The discussion features Eszter Kováts, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Vienna, and Biljana Kotevska, journalist at 24.hu, and is moderated by Damir Kapidžić, BiEPAG member. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dayton at 30: Bosnia’s Post-War Generation This year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement. Since then, a whole generational change has happened, but in terms of constitutional arrangements they have remained frozen for three decades. 2025 has seen a lot of reflections on this topic, but we are going to explore it from a different angle. Today we’re talking about what “Dayton” means for young people in the country, those who were born after the war of the 1990s ended. Host: Damir Kapidžić, BiEPAG member Guests: Tahir Herenda, Teaching assistant at the Law Faculty, University of Sarajevo Nikolina Lozo, Teaching assistant at the Law Faculty, PIM University Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Predicament of Media and Press Freedom in the Balkans During 2025, press freedom and independent journalism have come under sustained attack. The war in Ukraine, the genocide in Western Asia, and the political rise of extremist parties have all contributed to the erosion of one of the core pillars of democratic societies. In the Balkans, governments with increasingly authoritarian tendencies have for years exerted pressure on non-aligned media, disregarding the very European standards they are expected to uphold as EU candidate states. USAID - the U.S. agency that supported journalists and media organizations worldwide — has been shut down by President Donald Trump. Voice of America has not updated its homepage since March. Radio Free Europe faces a severe funding crisis. N1 and Nova TV continue to operate under intense political pressure. And in July, the region’s largest media outlet, Al Jazeera Balkans, abruptly closed without a clear explanation. So, is media pluralism in the Balkans under attack? And what does escalating political pressure mean for journalists - and for the public? Host: Giorgio Fruscione, BiEPAG member I Italian institute for international political studies Guests: Lejla Mazlić, Communication and Engagement Lead and former Al Jazeera Balkans  Slobodan Georgiev, News Director at TV Nova S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 A Change in Republika Srpska? Host: Damir Kapidžić, BiEPAG member Guests: Dženeta Karabegović, Associate Professor at the University of Salzburg, and Vedran Džihić, a member of BiEPAG This episode reflects on developments that have been keeping Bosnia and Herzegovina on edge. In the past year, the longtime leader of Bosnian Serbs and president of the ruling SNSD party, Milorad Dodik, was sentenced by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was sentenced to one year in prison, a sentence he commuted, removed from the office of President of Respublika Srpska, a subnational entity of BiH, and barred from holding public office for six years. He still disputes the sentence, even I though it is final. Since then, early elections were held in RS to fill his vacated, which were won by Siniša Karan, Dodik’s chosen successor. The shifting dynamics of the transatlantic alliance and general elections scheduled for October 2026 for their complicate the situation. To what all of this means and if we can expect a change in RS and for BiH? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kosovo on the Edge: Democracy, Deadlock, and Geopolitics It’s been an eventful year in Kosovo. New general elections are a possible scenario while the country is still navigating local elections, with the first round on 12 October and the second round expected on 9 November. In this episode, we unpack what’s at stake: ·      Can Kosovo’s institutions hold under pressure? ·      What does the return of Serbs in the four northern municipalities mean? ·      How do we move on from a year marked by political crises, and what’s at stake for the future? Hosted by Donika Emini – BiEPAG member 🎙 Guests: • Ilir Deda, Senior Research Fellow at KIPRED & Europe’s Futures Fellow • Jovana Radosavljević, Executive Director of New Social Initiative Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evolving Role of the European Political Community Host: Donika Emini, BiEPAG Member Guests: Odeta Barbullushi, Resident Professor at the College of Europe, Tirana Campus, and BiEPAG member Tristan Aureau, Director, Centre for Analysis, Planning and Strategy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France. Donika Emini, BiEPAG member and co-host of this episode, discusses the evolving role of the European Political Community, a forum born out of crisis, now standing at a critical juncture. With Albania hosting the sixth summit in Tirana, and Europe faces simultaneous security challenges from Ukraine to the Middle East, and regional frictions in the Western Balkans, the question is urgent. Can the European Political Community help the European unity in an age of uncertainty?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What the new German Government means for the Balkans? Host: Florian Bieber, BiEPAG Coordinator Guests: Frauke Seebass,Visiting Fellow, SWP & Associate Researcher, DGAP and Adi Ćeramagić, Senior Analyst, ESI The new German government of Friedrich Merz announced in its coalition agreement that it would prioritize reforms over enlargement. What this means for the Western Balkans and how the new government is expected to handle the key challenges in the region, from the mass protests in Serbia to the political crisis in Bosnia is the topic of Seriously Balkans.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kosovo’s 2025 Parliamentary Elections and the Shifting Geopolitical Landscape Host: Damir Kapidžić, member of BiEPAG Guests: Donika Emini, member of BiEPAG and Gëzim Krasniqi, Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh On February 9th, 2025, Kosovo held Parliamentary elections, the first after a full government term since independence. Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party, which previously won a landslide victory, secured around 40% of the vote this time, making a coalition government likely. Kurti’s tenure has been marked by tense relations with Belgrade, as well as a complicated dynamic with the EU and the US. What can we expect from a possible second term for Kurti, and how will the rise of a new, more aggressive US foreign policy under President Trump impact its relation towards Kosovo and the Western Balkans? What is the role of the EU and will it be able to step up its commitment towards Kosovo? To unpack the election results and their broader implications, we are joined by Gëzim Krasniqi, Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, and Donika Emini, a member of BiEPAG. Tune in for a deep dive into Kosovo’s evolving political landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Student Protests in Serbia Host: Florian Bieber, BiEPAG Coordinator Guests: Danica (anonymous based on the request of the student plenum), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade Student (anonymous based on the request of the student plenum), Philosophical Faculty, University of Belgrade We want to change the country, so we don’t have to leave the country, is a central theme of the thousands of students and other citizens filling the streets of Serbia. In the largest protests in Serbia and the entire region for decades, students, joined by other citizens, have been on the street for three months. In addition to commemorating the 15 victims of the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad train station, they demand that the institutions investigate the causes of the accident and publish the details that led to it. Beyond that, the protests have become a rallying point for demands for the rule of law and democracy. Florian Bieber discusses the demands, the protests themselves and the atmosphere with two student representatives from the University of Belgrade.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Croatia’s Role in the Region: Continuity or Change?   Host: Tena Prelec, BiEPAG Member Guests: First part: Oliver Kannenberg (Research associate at IParl, Berlin) and Željko Poljak (PhD researcher and a member of the M²P, University of Antwerp) Second part: Damir Kapidžić and Jovana Marović, BiEPAG Members Croatia often distances itself from the Western Balkans label, yet its political weight in the region is undeniable. In this episode, we unpack the country’s domestic political landscape post-presidential elections and its role in shaping key regional developments—from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s electoral reform to Montenegro’s EU accession process. Is Croatia a stabilising force, a destructive influence, a self-interested actor, or something else entirely? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do geopolitical interests impact democracy in the Balkans? Discussing how geopolitical interest shape the democracy in the Balkans, specifically the role of economic and informal political linkages of the countries of the region and EU, but also Russia and China. Host: Damir Kapidžić Guests: Milica Uvalić (Visiting Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies RSC at the European University Institute EUI in Florence Italy) and Alexander Mesarovich (Max Weber Fellow, European University Institute). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BiEPAG's Coordinator Florian Bieber is hosting his guests Majda Ruge (Senior Policy Fellow, ECFR Berlin) and Milan Krstić (Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, Belgrade) to discuss the possible implications of the results of the U.S. Elections 2024 and the incoming Donald Trump presidency for the Western Balkans, with special focus to his first nominations for key foreign posts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do the results of the 2024 EU elections mean for the Western Balkans? Host: Damir Kapidžić, BiEPAG Member Guests: Dušan Reljić, Independent consultant and former Head of Brussels office for SWP and Corina Stratulat, BiEPAG Member and Associate Director and Head of the European Politics and Institutions Programme at the European Policy Centre, Brussels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 8th podcast episode of Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks is all about the recent repeated local and municipal elections in Serbia. BiEPAG's Member Tena Prelec discusses the topic from different aspects with two experts that have followed the situation on the ground - Tamara Branković, Deputy Programme Director at the Serbian NGO CRTA and Aleksandar Ivković, Journalist at European Western Balkans and Serbia Elects project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 7th episode of our BiEPAG's podcast "Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks" is all about the analysis of the elections in North Macedonia  BiEPAG's Coordinator Florian Bieber is hosting the discussion on the recent presidential and parliamentary elections North Macedonia with Simonida Kacarska,Director of the European Policy Institute (EPI) - Skopje / Member of the EFB Steering Committee and Lura Pollozhani, Researcher at the University of Graz / BiEPAG Member. Listen to their analysis of the results and the prospects for the future developments and power games. #izboriMK #избори2024 #elections2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The last episode for 2023 of the BiEPAG's podcast Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks focuses on: The results of the Serbian parliamentary, local, and provincial elections Host: Florian Bieber Guests: Tara Tepavac, Researcher at Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory at the University of Belgrade, and Nikola Burazer, Programme Director at Centre for Contemporary Politics and Executive Editor at European Western Balkans Focus on the BiEPAG policy brief Beyond Stabilitocracy. Unveiling the Rise of Autocracy in the Western Balkans with Damir Kapidzic, Marika Djolai and Marko Kmezic, BiEPAG Members and authors of the brief Check the brief at the following link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every winter the same? Air pollution in the cities of the Western Balkans Host: Florian Bieber Guests: Gorjan Jovanovski, EarthCare.ai - North Macedonia and Denis Žiško, Aarhus Centre - BiH   Every winter we have the same picture – heating, traffic, heavy industry and coal fueled power plants are having harmful effects and causing increased air pollution, which is directly connected with many diseases, health problems and a reason for thousands of premature deaths. The winter season across the Western Balkans is all about the bad air quality and listing the capitals of the region among the most polluted cities in the world. Green Transition in the Western Balkans and the Role of External Actors Host: Tena Prelec Guests: BiEPAG Members Dimitar Bechev, Nikos Tzifakis, Marika Djolai, Donika Emini and Vujo Ilic.   The Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group conducted a comprehensive study on the geopolitics of the green energy transition in the Western Balkans. The study is based on desk research, several detailed case studies and an opinion poll conducted between March and April 2023 in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. BiEPAG Members and experts that were involved in this research project are discussing the main findings on the Green Energy Transition in the Western Balkans and the role of external actors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.