Week in Review: To Be Or Not To Be

Roadmap for reform? Supporters light flares during a victory rally organised by the Student List coalition in Belgrade, 26 October 2026. Photo: EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC Last week, the European Commission released its annual progress reports on the EU accession hopefuls. But in Serbia’s case, the report was more about backsliding on reforms than on progress, reflecting a tortuous year for the country. In her interview for Balkan Insight, Dragana Djurica, head of the European Movement in Serbia, takes stock of where Serbia’s EU accession process stands. Optimistically, she argues that the bleak report could act as a roadmap for reform in the country after the recent change of power. Read more: With Change of Power, Serbia Can Reinvigorate EU Accession Bid (November 6, 2026) Clouds on horizon EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen (L) and Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajic attend a press conference in Podgorica, 1 October 2026. Photo: EPA/BORIS PEJOVIC After the bruising experience of Brexit, could the EU be on course to grow back towards 28 member states? Montenegro certainly hopes so, seeking to join by 2028. But the Montenegrin dream of “28 by 28” could still end in tears. A French presidential election in the first half of 2027 in which far-right Eurosceptic Marine Le Pen is the favourite to win, does not look like a good omen for Montenegro. In his opinion piece for Balkan Insight, Ian Bancroft explores whether a Gallic shrug could sink Montenegro’s EU hopes. Read more: French Election Could Stymie EU Enlargement into Balkans (November 5, 2026) Losing momentum People walk across the historic Stone Bridge in central Skopje, July 2026. Photo: EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI North Macedonia received official EU candidate status in 2005. But over the two decades since then, its accession process has been stalled for far longer than it has been advancing. The latest progress report released by the European Commission in November does not provide much reason for rejoicing in Skopje. In an interview, political analyst Petar Arsovski warns of the dangers of North Macedonia falling behind its neighbours on EU accession. Arsovski also puts forward some creative thinking on how the country could overcome its current deadlock with Bulgaria. Read more: North Macedonia ‘Losing Ground’ on EU Accession as Neighbours Advance: Analyst (November 11, 2026) Under siege Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana, June 2026. Photo: EPA/MALTON DIBRA Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, who has been in power almost as long as outgoing Serbian leader Aleksandar Vucic, is looking embattled. A row over pay increases with judges and prosecutors is unlikely help his case. Meanwhile, he also faces attacks from Erion Veliaj, the imprisoned Mayor of Tirana. Once a close ally and seen as a possible successor, Veliaj seems to be turning on Rama from behind bars, in an attempt to portray himself as a political prisoner. Read more: From Behind Bars, Tirana Mayor Turns on Albania’s PM Rama (November 12, 2026) Read more: Politics and Pay: Albanian Govt Locks Horns with Judges, Prosecutors (November 11, 2026) Controversial pardons A handout photo made available by the Serbian Presidency shows Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signing his official letter of resignation in Belgrade, September 2026. Photo: EPA/DIMITRIJE GOLL/SERBIAN PRESIDENCY Before resigning as Serbia’s President to lead his party into parliamentary elections, as one of his parting acts as head of state, Aleksandar Vucic pardoned some 49 people. However, at the time, he refused to disclose the names of those he had pardoned, which raised suspicions. In the aftermath of the elections, which his party lost, the names of those pardoned began to trickle out. Many of those pardoned had been involved in violent attacks on anti-government protests. Others had even worse records. Our analysis looks both at the disputed pardons – and at the attempts to challenge them. Read more: Serbian President’s Controversial Last-Minute Pardons Face Legal Challenges (November 6, 2026) Moment of truth Dumped waste in Donji Miholjac, Croatia, has reached the road. Photo: B. Kis Can Croatia’s long-ruling HDZ party put the genie back in the bottle? After more than a decade in power, a scandal over illegally dumped hazardous waste across the country is seriously threatening the party’s grip on power. Our analysis looks at how what began as a local environmental issue ballooned into a force which sparked national protests and made it all the way to Brussels. We also look at the schemes that have allowed illegal waste dumps to mushroom around the country. Read more: Croatian Waste Scandal Turns Environment into Political Battleground (November 11, 2026)