A disaster without culprits
Big protests in Novi Sad and regional leaders celebrating Donald Trump’s election. But also: big plans for EU enlargement and powerful seers.
Good morning, everyone, and welcome back!
This is Balkan Brew, the newsletter that serves you the perfect Balkan-flavored cup every Friday morning.
This week, we're diving into the disaster that hit Novi Sad, the reactions around Trump’s election, and the plans of Marta Kos, the likely next EU Enlargement Commissioner. And, by the way — did you know a 20th-century mystic supposedly predicted Trump’s victory?
There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right in.
BUT FIRST. In our special issue on the U.S. elections, we published a map that didn’t include the borders of Kosovo and Montenegro. Thanks to everyone who caught that error — your feedback makes Balkan Brew better!
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A disaster without culprits
Fourteen people lost their lives and three were heavily injured at the train station in Novi Sad, Serbia, last Friday around noon when the canopy outside the recently renovated building suddenly collapsed.
NO ONE’S FAULT. Serbian Transport Minister Goran Vešić resigned on Monday but maintained that he bears “not the slightest bit of responsibility” for what happened. Others involved in the station's renovation echoed this, pointing out that the canopy hadn’t been touched in the recent works.
PROTESTS... This lack of accountability didn’t sit well with Serbian citizens, who took to the streets in one of the largest protests the city has seen in years. Protesters threw paint and smashed windows at Novi Sad City Hall.
… AND ARRESTS. Five people remain in custody following the protests, including an opposition councilor from Novi Sad City Council and a youth organization activist.
STILL OUT THERE. The turnout was huge — like in past protests, from those over school reform to the recent demonstrations against lithium mining. Though these efforts haven’t achieved much so far, it’s both surprising and inspiring to see Serbian citizens still showing up with so much passion.
A sober celebration
THE AMERICAN DREAM. Balkan nationalist leaders didn’t waste any time: their congratulations to Donald Trump for his victory in the U.S. elections came fast and enthusiastic.
(Btw, we published a special issue of Balkan Brew to explain what Trump’s election means for the Balkans. You can check it out here).
AND THE WINNER IS. The most notable came from Bosnian-Serb leader Milorad Dodik. On Wednesday morning, he proudly sported a MAGA hat. Later that evening, the Palace of the President of Republika Srpska was lit up — soberly, of course — with Trump’s face. Around the same time, the U.S. announced another round of sanctions targeting individuals close to him.
SOME MAY WIN, SOME MAY LOSE. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, in her congratulatory message, emphasized just how much of an “indispensable partner” the U.S. is for Kosovo. Let’s hope it stays that way.
A marathon, not a sprint
Marta Kos passed her hearing in the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and is set to become the next Enlargement Commissioner. Kos spoke for about three hours sharing her ideas. Here’s the key takeaway: enlargement will be “merit-based”.
NO SHORTCUTS. That means “there are no shortcuts” for countries wanting to join the EU. Countries hoping for a faster process — especially those threatened by Russia, such as Ukraine and Moldova — probably weren’t too happy about this.
THE FRONTRUNNERS. Kos mentioned that “the EU could end negotiations with Montenegro by the end of 2026 and Albania by 2027.”
BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME. Turkey won’t see any more progress. “We should start talking to Turkey on a different level than the enlargement process,” Kos said.
GOT THREE SPARE HOURS? You can rewatch Kos’ full audition at this link.
IN OTHER NEWS
Slovenia is planning its biggest water supply project yet to bring water to 12 municipalities in the Istra, Karst, and Notrajnska regions, which have been struggling with severe water shortages.
Russian oil giant LUKOIL is looking to sell the largest refinery in the Balkans, located in Bulgaria, to a British-Qatari consortium — but the Bulgarian government claims to have no info about it.
In Moldova, pro-European President Maia Sandu was re-elected for a second term, despite major Russian interference.
Thousands of people in Montenegro protested in the town of Ulcinj after a woman died following childbirth.
Ethnic Albanians in Southern Serbia are protesting how Serbian authorities label their addresses as “inactive,” meaning they can’t vote or renew their IDs.
AND FINALLY. We might be terrible at chess (we are), but at Balkan Brew we do enjoy playing from time to time. Chess is super popular in the Balkans, but it’s often seen as a “men’s game” and is loaded with gender stereotypes. Shehrije Gerbeshi, a 66-year-old player, founded the first women’s chess club in Kosovo to encourage more women and girls to play. As you’ll read in this feature, her task hasn’t been easy.
GUESS WHO’S BACK. Trump’s victory in the US might’ve surprised many, but guess who saw it coming? Baba Vanga, of course — the all-powerful Bulgarian fortune teller. With such a reliable ally, who needs analysts and pollsters? So, we decided to save you some trouble and share what’s next according to Vanga:
2025-2028: World hunger disappears.
2076: Communism returns.
2304: Humanity achieves time travel.
5079: The end of the world.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for subscribing to Balkan Brew and for all your support. If you find this newsletter interesting, consider spreading the word—it really helps us out. Feel free to reach out with any suggestions, comments, or if you just want to say hi. It’s easy — just reply to this email.
Until next week,
The future is unwritten.
BB