The Serbo-Bulgarian Gas Connector, formally known as the Interconnector Bulgaria-Serbia (IBS), represents a critical infrastructural and geopolitical development in the energy sector of Southeast Europe. The inauguration of the construction works on the Bulgarian section of this gas interconnector was a significant milestone, underscoring its importance as an EU Project…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2024-03-15
Slovakia's renewable energy targets and strategy Slovakia's National Energy and Climate Plan sets an ambitious target of achieving a 19.2% share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption by 2030. To ensure the security and affordability of electricity and heat generation, the state is poised to support renewable energy…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2024-01-10
Dear readers and friends of Blue Europe, As we approach the end of another year, it is with great pride and gratitude that we reflect on the remarkable journey our think tank has undertaken in 2023. Exactly as last year, we have worked toward participating in the public discourse and…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2023-12-24
Romania is undergoing a significant expansion in solar power within its broader energy transition framework, bolstered by European funding and legal reforms. This upsurge has prompted investments across the spectrum, from individual households as prosumers to utility-scale facilities, with local government units emerging as a significant segment for development up…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2023-12-21
Greece's picturesque landscapes and rich biodiversity are under siege from an increasing number of vegetation fires. These fires, driven by both natural and human factors, present significant economic and environmental challenges. The country's hot, dry summers create ideal conditions for fires, while human activities, including negligent behaviour and arson, contribute…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2023-11-20
In this final third part we will analyse European initiatives put in place to address environmental issues in the Western Balkans. Particularly, we will go through EU financial instruments, EU implementation plans and finally European territorial cooperation. You can read the previous Part 2 here. European financial instruments EU instruments…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2023-10-06
You can find part 1 here. Introduction In this second part regarding environmental concerns in the Western Balkans, we will briefly analyse the general public perception of this issue. Particularly, we will analyse and showcase 2023 data from the Balkan Public Barometer. The Balkan Barometer is an annual survey of…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2023-09-15
Pollution, air quality and, more broadly, responses to climate change pose a challenge to the stability and security of the Balkan region. The environmental fragility of the region combined with critical socio-economic issues make it feared that the energy transition in the Western Balkans will not be a foregone conclusion.…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2023-08-19
You can find Part 1 here. In 2023, Croatia has reached a crucial integration milestone with the EU. After a decade of EU membership, the Balkan nation has joined the Euro and Schengen zones. As the EU Single Market celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, this signifies a dramatic shift…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2023-07-28
Despite challenging experiences with the Euro’s governance, particularly during the financial crisis, the rules for joining the monetary union have remained essentially unchanged since their inception, and Croatia has followed the path into the Eurozone as set out in the Maastricht Treaty. Croatia is the 20th country to decide to…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2023-06-03
Despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to Serbia's National Bank, the country's record amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2022 exceeded central bankers' expectations. Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, praised the "great success in a year of fighting in Ukraine". By showcasing Vucic's close ties to Moscow and…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2023-05-09
Turkey's foreign policy agenda has been shaped for decades by the political arrangements of the Cold War. Turkey's unmistakable orientation towards the West is not a temporary phenomenon. It is a tradition that dates back to the 1920s, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, initiated…
B.F.G. Fabrègue2023-04-14