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?

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What the new German Government means for the Balkans?

Host: Florian Bieber

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.

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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.

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