Latest news with #Belgrade-based
France 24
07-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Serbian leader Vucic defies EU with Russia visit
Russian state TV showed footage of Vucic in the capital, where the Kremlin said he will also have a meeting with President Vladimir Putin after Friday's parade. "After many years, back in Moscow," Vucic wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of him at Moscow airport. The European Union has repeatedly warned it would not look favourably upon such actions by member states or candidate countries, which Serbia has been since 2012. "Relations with Russia cannot be business as usual," European Commission spokesman Markus Lammert said last week, referring to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. But he declined to speculate on any consequences. That has left room for manoeuvre for Vucic, whom Putin honoured with a top award in 2019 for promoting ties between the countries. In a sign of the tightrope he is walking, Vucic, who has been in power since 2012, received the Russian ambassador Wednesday before his departure for Moscow, swiftly followed by the British ambassador, just days after a visit to the United States. The Balkan country has long held close ties with Russia and a shared aversion to NATO since the 1999 Kosovo war bombings. Delicate balance Since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Belgrade has maintained relations with Moscow and imposed no sanctions, yet supported UN resolutions against it. Maintaining good relations with Putin without alienating EU favour is "one of the pillars" of Vucic's foreign policy, even if "he has been more careful in recent years", said Florian Bieber, of the University of Graz. It is also about "calibrating the intensity of Serbia's relationship with Europe", said Eric Gordy, a Balkans specialist at University College London, who compared Vucic's approach to that of former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito. From the Russian side, having "the biggest country and the largest economy in the middle of the Balkans is a very significant lever -- not to directly influence but simply to be present, to provoke... instrumentalise (or even) undermine EU projects," said Nemanja Todorovic Stiplija, from the Belgrade-based Centre for Contemporary Politics think tank. Misunderstanding Ties include contracts for Russian Mi-17 helicopters and a Pantsir air defence system sold to Serbia. During the Covid pandemic, Russia provided medical equipment and Sputnik vaccines, while Moscow has supported Serbia at the UN, particularly over Belgrade's claim to its former province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. The Orthodox Church and the presence in Serbia of Russian media outlets such as Sputnik, TASS and RT Balkan provide useful communication channels for Putin, whose likeness adorns mugs, magnets, t-shirts and socks sold at kiosks in the heart of Belgrade. Russia also retains a stranglehold through control of gas supplies, with its energy giant Gazprom owning critical energy infrastructure in Serbia. Vucic faces pressure there too, as Belgrade negotiates a new multi-year gas deal with Russia when the current agreement expires at the end of May. Russian investment, though, is dwarfed by China, which has pumped billions into Serbia and its Balkan neighbours in recent years, as it tries to expand its economic footprint in central Europe. Another key player is the EU with whom Serbia conducts most of its trade. Stiplija said the Kremlin's grip "is not that extensive but the Serbian government is trying to somehow use this misunderstanding... that there is a very big Russian political influence". For Bieber, there is a "shared influence", pointing out that "most anti-Western media in Serbia are Serbian outlets". Gordy said that Vucic's Moscow trip is "a populist gesture towards Serbia's right-wing fringe" as he battles widespread protests stemming from a deadly railway station roof collapse in Novi Sad last year that has become a symbol of deep-rooted corruption.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unija ETL expands in West Balkans
Unija ETL, a member of the ETL GLOBAL network, has announced a series of mergers in Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia, expanding its presence across the West Balkans. In 2024, Unija ETL bolstered its position in Serbia by merging with AccountTronic&Tax, a Belgrade-based accounting firm. This merger offers the company valuable insights into the local market. Early in 2025, the company further expanded its Serbian operations through a merger with Klaris NS, a firm located in Novi Sad. This integration enhances Unija's regional strength and provides access to a skilled professional pool in northern Serbia. In March 2025, Unija ETL deepened its Croatian presence by acquiring MKD-BIRO, headquartered in Zagreb. The move supports the company's goal of bolster its operations and services across the Croatian market. Concurrently, Unija completed the acquisition of Unija Sibit in Slovenia. Unija Sibit specialises in IT solutions, including services in IT security, support, and project implementation for businesses. In March 2025, ETL GLOBAL unveiled its international Real Estate Group, comprising legal, tax, and financial experts dedicated to providing guidance to property investors, developers, and businesses throughout Europe. The Real Estate Group aims to assist clients with investment planning, financing, construction, portfolio management, and transaction execution. ETL, headquartered in Essen, Germany, is a professional services firm with a European culture, more than 50 years of history, and a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The network includes more than 1000 professionals in tax, law, accountancy, auditing, and business consultancy. ETL GLOBAL serves as an interdisciplinary network of professionals and the international business platform for ETL. "Unija ETL expands in West Balkans" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Serbia expects another sanctions waiver from US for oil company NIS, official says
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbian oil company NIS, majority-owned by Russia's Gazprom Neft and Gazprom, is likely to get a last-minute, 30-day extension to its waiver from U.S. sanctions, the CEO of state gas company Srbijagas said on Thursday. The previous waiver is due to expire at midnight, and if it is not extended NIS could face crude supply cuts. NIS operates the only oil refinery in Serbia, which has annual capacity of 4.8 million tons and covers most of the Balkan country's needs. "There will be more delays of sanctions ... , but we cannot expect more than 30 days," Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic told Belgrade-based Pink TV. He did not say how he knew this information. Bajatovic is a member of Serbia's co-ruling Socialist party and Srbijagas is also a trade partner of Gazprom. NIS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As part of its January 10 sanctions on Russia's oil sector, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control gave Gazprom Neft 45 days to exit ownership of NIS. On March 19, NIS sought a 30-day waiver of the sanctions, an extension of the first reprieve approved on Feb 27, to secure more time to find a solution with the Russian companies. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred stakes of around 5.15% in NIS to Gazprom in an attempt to ward off sanctions. The transfer follows a similar change in 2022 when the company avoided EU sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Gazprom Neft now owns 44.85% of NIS, while Gazprom has 11.3%. The Serbian government holds 29.87%, and small shareholders the rest. NIS imports about 80% of its needs through Croatian pipeline operator Janaf, with the remainder covered by its own crude oil production in Serbia.
Reuters
27-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Serbia expects another sanctions waiver from US for oil company NIS, official says
BELGRADE, March 27 (Reuters) - Serbian oil company NIS ( opens new tab, majority-owned by Russia's Gazprom Neft ( opens new tab and Gazprom ( opens new tab, is likely to get a last-minute, 30-day extension to its waiver from U.S. sanctions, the CEO of state gas company Srbijagas said on Thursday. The previous waiver is due to expire at midnight, and if it is not extended NIS could face crude supply cuts. NIS operates the only oil refinery in Serbia, which has annual capacity of 4.8 million tons and covers most of the Balkan country's needs. "There will be more delays of sanctions ... , but we cannot expect more than 30 days," Srbijagas CEO Dusan Bajatovic told Belgrade-based Pink TV. He did not say how he knew this information. Bajatovic is a member of Serbia's co-ruling Socialist party and Srbijagas is also a trade partner of Gazprom. NIS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As part of its January 10 sanctions on Russia's oil sector, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control gave Gazprom Neft 45 days to exit ownership of NIS. On March 19, NIS sought a 30-day waiver of the sanctions, an extension of the first reprieve approved on Feb 27, to secure more time to find a solution with the Russian companies. On February 26, Gazprom Neft transferred stakes of around 5.15% in NIS to Gazprom in an attempt to ward off sanctions. The transfer follows a similar change in 2022 when the company avoided EU sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Gazprom Neft now owns 44.85% of NIS, while Gazprom has 11.3%. The Serbian government holds 29.87%, and small shareholders the rest. NIS imports about 80% of its needs through Croatian pipeline operator Janaf, with the remainder covered by its own crude oil production in Serbia.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Serbia deputy prime minister says Russian spies help put down protests
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia's deputy prime minister said on Friday Russia's spy services had helped the Belgrade authorities respond to months of anti-government protests, remarks which critics said revealed that the government had become dependent on Moscow. Students, backed by teachers, farmers and workers, have maintained daily protests across Serbia since last November, when 16 people died in a roof collapse at a train station in the northern city of Novi Sad, which they blame on corruption. "I am very grateful to Russia's special services, which always support us in our fight against colour revolutions, primarily with information," Deputy Prime Minister Alexandar Vulin said in an interview with Russia's RIA state news agency. "They know what danger hangs over Serbia," RIA quoted Vulin as saying. Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic often describes protests as attempts to mount a "colour revolution", a reference to pro-Western protests that toppled governments in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan in recent decades. Aleksandar Djokic, a Belgrade-based political scientist critical of the government, said Vulin's remarks "are echoing how much Russia's support is important for the regime". "The only open support to the regime comes from Russia, all others are either neutral or are condemning it," he said. Belgrade is balancing between its aspirations to join the European Union and its close relations with Russia, a traditional major power ally and major gas supplier. Vucic accuses Western countries of plotting with students and the opposition to topple Serbia's government, which has long had good ties with Moscow. The protest leaders deny any links to the West. Vulin, a pro-Russian politician who leads a small party in Vucic's ruling coalition, previously served as the head of Serbia's Security and Information Agency (BIA), as well as interior and defence minister. He resigned from the BIA after being put on a sanctions list by the United States in 2023 over accusations of pro-Russian activity.
