Week in Review: Perfect Storms and Banal Disputes

Widening Cracks

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Kiril Petkov leaves after an emergency European Union (EU) summit on the situation in Ukraine, Brussels, February 25, 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/JOHN THYS

When the government of Prime Minister Kiril Petkov took office in December 2021 - after a year which saw a record three inconclusive Parliamentary elections - hopes were high that Bulgaria might finally regain some of its political stability. There were also hopes that the new government could implement some long-overdue rule of law reforms and defuse a bilateral dispute with neighbouring North Macedonia.

Yet not even six months in, the ruling coalition - always unlikely bed fellows - is facing major challenges. Even some within the ruling coalition are warning that it may not see out the end of the year. Our analysis looks at the problems and pitfalls facing the Petkov government, as well as its chances of survival.

Read more: Cracks in Bulgaria's Reformist Coalition Widen (April 20, 2022)

Intractable

EU Police officers patrol the area near the border crossing between Kosovo and Serbia in Jarinje, Kosovo, September 28, 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/VALDRIN XHEMAJ

When it comes to Kosovo and Serbia, even the most banal of disputes seem to have an ability to become intractable. Back in the autumn of 2021, a dispute over the mutual use of licence plates issued by Belgrade and Pristina turned into a dangerous stand-off along their mutual border.

A stop-gap solution was found, with a six month deadline agreed to find a permanent solution to the problem of their mutual non-recognition of each other's licence plates. Yet what should be a relatively simple problem to resolve still defies solution. Our analysis takes stock...