Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks

Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group
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  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
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Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks is a podcast series that offers an in-depth analysis and background information to current events in the Balkans, as well as discussions with leading policy analysts on important new studies. Seriously Balkans is your regular update on what matters in the region, produced by the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. The Student Protest Movement in Serbia: What does the Future hold?

    FEB 27

    The Student Protest Movement in Serbia: What does the Future hold?

    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.

    30 min
  2. The Western Balkans under Trump

    JAN 19

    The Western Balkans under Trump

    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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  3. Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 20

    12/31/2025

    Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 20

    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.

    27 min
  4. Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 19

    12/19/2025

    Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 19

    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.

    33 min
  5. Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 18

    12/11/2025

    Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 18

    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.

    38 min
  6. Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 17

    11/06/2025

    Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 17

    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.

    33 min
  7. Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 16

    06/17/2025

    Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 16

    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.

    38 min
  8. Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 15

    05/07/2025

    Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks, episode 15

    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.

    27 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks is a podcast series that offers an in-depth analysis and background information to current events in the Balkans, as well as discussions with leading policy analysts on important new studies. Seriously Balkans is your regular update on what matters in the region, produced by the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group
  • Show Website
    Seriously Balkans - The BiEPAG Talks