Conflicts in the western part of the Balkan peninsula continue to simmer
Letter from Eastern Europe: Western Balkans a test for energy diplomacy
Common energy projects appear to be holding a famously fractious Balkan peninsula together—for now
The Balkan peninsula was once described as the powder keg of Europe, and despite furious diplomacy in recent weeks by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and other leading EU figures, conflicts in the western part of the peninsula continue to simmer. Energy is right at the heart of heated intrigue. But while elsewhere around the globe it often divides neighbours, here it is a major factor holding peace together. With oil and gas prices skyrocketing, Russian supplies in doubt and winter descending fast upon the region, a billion-euro energy fund consisting of grants and budget aid may go a long way to patch rising neighbourhood tensions, at least temporarily, and to put a lid o
Also in this section
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation
