AGP Executive Report

Trade Talks: Serbia and Ukraine are preparing a joint statement to keep free-trade agreement negotiations moving, with a possible signing in the coming days after restored contacts between their governments and business communities. EU Pathway: Austria, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic are pushing a “step-by-step” model for Western Balkans countries to get gradual, sector-by-sector access to the EU single market as they align with EU rules. Skopje Tensions: Albanian students in North Macedonia are escalating protests over language rights, demanding professional exams be available in Albanian and calling for full implementation of Albanian in state institutions; clashes were reported during earlier demonstrations. Energy Security: The US is backing new gas projects across the Western Balkans to cut reliance on Russian supplies, including potential LNG and pipeline plans involving Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia. Prisons Watch: Malta’s prison system is flagged as severely overcrowded by the Council of Europe, while North Macedonia is listed among countries with moderate overcrowding.

Albanian-language exam showdown in Skopje: Albanian students escalated protests into clashes in the capital, demanding the professional law/bar exam be offered in Albanian and pushing for full language equality in state institutions; the government says solutions are being worked on via a legal-experts commission, while Prime Minister Mickoski met VLEN leaders to align on language rules. EU integration push: North Macedonia’s President Siljanovska-Davkova urged Slovenia to back EU enlargement without turning it into an identity dispute, framing Western Balkans integration as both political and security-related. EU energy cooperation: The US is backing new gas projects across the Western Balkans, including LNG and pipelines, with North Macedonia named among countries targeted for reduced reliance on Russian supply. Sports spotlight: In North Macedonia’s league, Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Avornyo earned a Team of the Week spot after a standout match for KF Bashkimi. Global backdrop: Cyprus is expanding air links despite regional instability, and Türkiye named a 35-man World Cup squad under Montella.

EU Integration Push: North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova met Slovenia’s President Nataša Pirc Musar in Ljubljana, urging support for EU enlargement and warning against “bilateralizing” the process over identity issues. Language Rights Protest: Albanian students are back on the streets in Skopje, demanding professional law and bar exams be offered in Albanian, calling it a constitutional right tied to the Ohrid Agreement. Energy Security Moves: The US is backing new gas routes across the Western Balkans, including LNG and pipelines, while CBAM is already disrupting regional electricity trading and liquidity. Terror Case in the Spotlight: US prosecutors announced charges against an Iraqi man linked to Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s IRGC, alleging plots across Europe and North America that include an arson attack on a synagogue in Skopje. Sports & Culture: Türkiye named a 35-man provisional World Cup squad with a friendly vs North Macedonia set for June 1; in North Macedonia’s league, Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Avornyo earned Matchday 32 Team of the Week honors.

Terror Case in Focus: The U.S. DOJ has arrested an Iraqi man, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, described as a senior Kata’ib Hizballah commander, charging him with six terrorism counts tied to nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe, the U.S., and Canada, including alleged links to violence claimed under Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya. Language Rights Protest: Albanian-language students are gathering in Skopje at the Stone Bridge to demand professional exams be offered in Albanian, continuing a wider dispute over linguistic equality. EU Policy Pressure: CBAM’s carbon border tax is already reshaping regional electricity markets, with Serbia’s power trading seeing lower liquidity and weaker cross-border trade toward the EU. Health Watch: Europe is monitoring hantavirus concerns as countries lack a single prevention playbook, even as risk is currently judged low. EU Path: Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar reiterated that North Macedonia belongs in the EU during an official visit.

Far-Right Tensions in Brussels: Manfred Weber says the EPP’s “firewall” against the far right is wobbling, as internal rebels push for cooperation with Patriots and AfD—raising stakes for next year’s national elections. Energy Grid Race: At the Belgrade Energy Forum, Serbia’s TSO EMS says it’s ready to plug in about 12 GW of renewables over six years, while Balkan ministers stress regional links to keep supply secure through the green transition. Skopje Language Flashpoint: Albanian students plan a May 18 Skopje protest over taking the bar exam in Albanian, reigniting the wider fight over language equality after the Ohrid Agreement. Terror Case Across Borders: The US unsealed charges against an Iraqi man accused of coordinating nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks across Europe and North America, including claims tied to Toronto. Sports Moment: Greece’s men’s handball team qualifies for the 2027 World Championship for the first time in 22 years.

Language Rights Clash: Albanian students in Skopje plan a May 18 protest on the Stone Bridge to demand the bar exam be taken in Albanian, reigniting a wider fight over whether language equality is respected in practice after the Ohrid Agreement. Political Pressure: A new wave of claims and counterclaims is swirling around the Albanian community’s role in North Macedonia’s politics, with critics saying some actors weaken rights while others argue the real goal is equal citizenship and a fair EU path. Regional Tensions: Serbia is also pushing nationalist rhetoric tied to Kosovo and Montenegro’s independence anniversary, as Podgorica rejects Belgrade’s framing of the celebrations. Security Update: In the wider region, the US has charged an Iraqi man accused of coordinating nearly 20 terror attacks targeting Jewish sites across Europe, Canada and plots linked to the US. Disaster Readiness: Meanwhile, Turkish and Balkan rescue teams trained together in Thessaloniki in a three-day emergency drill.

Terror Charges Across Continents: An Iraqi man, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, 32, has been arrested in the U.S. and charged over alleged plots to carry out nearly 20 attacks targeting Jews in Canada, the U.S. and across Europe, including claims tied to a London stabbing and an alleged Toronto attack. UK-Iran Tensions: The UK says it will deploy military assets for a future defensive mission in the Strait of Hormuz, even as Washington fumes at Britain’s reluctance to join U.S. strikes. Energy Push in the Balkans: Serbia is positioning itself as a south-north energy hub, while ministers in Athens stress cross-border gas and power links to protect supply. North Macedonia Politics & Rights: Skopje and Sofia trade accusations again, as Albanian students plan another protest over taking the bar exam in Albanian. Local Crime Spotlight: Prosecutors in North Macedonia are preparing charges in what’s described as the country’s first serial femicide case.

UK-Iran Tensions: Britain will send military assets for a future defensive mission in the Strait of Hormuz, but Washington is still irritated by Prime Minister Starmer’s refusal to join a US-led Iran strike, with Trump blasting him as “no Churchill.” Terror Crackdown: The US arrested an Iraqi militia commander accused of coordinating nearly 20 antisemitic attacks across Europe and Canada, including plots tied to Jewish targets in the US and an alleged role in an arson attack on a synagogue in North Macedonia. Regional Energy Push: Serbia is positioning itself as a south-north energy hub, citing gas links with Bulgaria and plans for new interconnectors with North Macedonia and Greece, plus major transmission upgrades. North Macedonia Watch: Albanian students are set to protest again over the bar exam being offered in Albanian, while politics continues trading accusations with Bulgaria over EU-related conditions. Culture & Society: Skopje’s brutalist architecture is drawing tourists, and Macedonian cinema keeps pushing at Cannes with new projects and filming underway.

Terror Crackdown: The US Justice Department arrested and charged an Iraqi man, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, accusing him of coordinating nearly 20 terror attacks and attempted attacks across the US, Europe and Canada, including plots targeting Jewish sites; prosecutors link him to Kata’ib Hizballah and Iran’s IRGC. Ukraine War Watch: A new push by Ukraine is described alongside grim casualty figures for Russia, with analysts warning that a drawn-out collapse could make Moscow more dangerous. North Macedonia in the Spotlight: Prosecutors also cite an alleged arson attack on a synagogue in Skopje as part of the wider case. Sports & Culture: In football, Nigeria’s Sunday Adetunji has switched international allegiance to Sudan; in Skopje, filming has started on the new feature “Snowman/Sneshko,” a coming-of-age fantasy coproduction supported by the North Macedonia Film Agency.

Energy Security Talks: Greece’s deputy energy minister Kiril Temelkov says Southeast Europe’s energy safety hinges on faster regional cooperation, pointing to the East-West electricity link and the Vertical Gas Corridor as ways to diversify supply. NIS-MOL Deal: Serbia’s energy minister Dubravka Đedović Handanović says the government will send its final position to Hungary’s MOL by end of day, with a board decision expected Monday over MOL’s planned stake in NIS and the future of the Pančevo refinery. North Macedonia–Bulgaria Tensions: Political parties in Skopje traded fresh accusations tied to Bulgaria-related disputes, while Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski has requested an official meeting with Bulgaria’s counterpart during NATO talks in Sweden. EU Accession Pressure: The Albanian-language bar exam debate is back in focus as students plan another protest on May 18, demanding the exam in Albanian. International Justice: Ukraine and dozens of countries signed up to a future special tribunal aimed at prosecuting Russia for crimes linked to the invasion. Culture & Film: Filming has started in Skopje on Stojan Vujičić’s fantasy coming-of-age feature “Snowman,” and the North Macedonia Film Agency is set to promote Macedonian cinema at Cannes.

NIS Deal Deadline: Serbia says it will submit its bid for a majority stake in oil company NIS to Hungary’s MOL by the end of the day, with MOL expected to respond by Monday—under a US OFAC license that must be completed by May 22. Energy Integration Push: Ministers meeting in Athens backed faster integration of Southeastern Europe’s energy grids, calling it key for security and the gas “corridor” linking the region. Language Rights Flashpoint: North Macedonia’s bar exam protest is back in focus as Albanian law students plan another action on May 18, while the PM says a solution is being prepared with Venice Commission input. Diplomatic Tension: Skopje has summoned Bulgaria’s ambassador over Sofia’s use of the “North Macedonian” adjective, as foreign ministers prepare for a NATO meeting in Sweden. Justice Watch: Prosecutors are preparing charges in what they describe as North Macedonia’s first suspected serial femicide case. Culture & Education: Skopje marked Bulgaria’s Alphabet Day at the Bulgarian Cultural and Information Centre with exhibitions and children’s programs.

Serial Femicide Probe: North Macedonia prosecutors say they are preparing charges against a 25-year-old suspect in what they call the country’s first suspected serial femicide case—four women killed and two others allegedly targeted—after earlier deaths were wrongly ruled “natural” and were later linked through exhumations; the crimes are said to have occurred over 12 months to January 2026. Cross-Border Justice & Security: Police chiefs from Southeast Europe met in Sarajevo to push deeper cooperation against organized crime, illegal migration, trafficking and cybercrime. EU Pressure & Alignment: North Macedonia is among countries aligning with new EU sanctions aimed at Russia’s shadow fleet and related workarounds. Energy Update: EVN Macedonia has put a 10 MW, 2-hour battery storage system into operation at its Probištip solar park. Culture & Sports: A new Deep Purple single “Arrogant Boy” drops ahead of their July album release, while Denmark’s World Cup hopes ended in tight playoff margins.

Energy Security: Azerbaijan’s oil is finding a new route to East Asia, with Japan’s ENEOS receiving about 45,000 kiloliters of Azerbaijani crude—an extra hedge as Middle East shipping stays volatile. EU Enlargement: In Bratislava, Slovakia’s PM Robert Fico met EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos, backing Western Balkans accession “if conditions are met” while pushing for faster, pre-membership integration steps. Regional Climate Diplomacy: In Struga, OSCE-supported talks brought Albanian and North Macedonian lawmakers together to tackle shared environmental and climate-security risks. Local Energy Upgrade: EVN Macedonia put a 10 MW battery storage system into operation at its Probištip solar park, aiming to smooth supply and improve grid flexibility. North Macedonia–Albanian Tensions: The PM says a solution is coming for Albanian-language law students’ bar exam demands, after protests were announced for 18 May. Sports & Culture: Deep Purple released their first “SPLAT!” single, “Arrogant Boy,” while Serbia’s Saint Sava relic exhibition arrives in Belgrade.

Albanian-language bar exam standoff: North Macedonia’s PM Hristijan Mickoski says the government will soon propose a solution for Albanian law students who want to take the bar exam in Albanian, after they warned of protests on 18 May; he points to Venice Commission guidance and accuses opposition parties of inflaming tensions, while students say they’ll keep demonstrating until they get a clear decision. EU enlargement push: EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos told Slovakia she hopes all Western Balkan EU negotiation chapters can be finished fast, with full-rights membership targeted by 2030. Foreign policy friction: Serbia is the only Western Balkans EU candidate not aligning with the EU’s four new foreign policy decisions on Ukraine/Belarus, though it did align on Myanmar. Skopje diplomacy flare-up: Skopje summoned Bulgaria’s ambassador over Sofia’s use of “North Macedonian” in EU talks. Local oddity with a warning: A wolf kept as a pet escaped in Skopje and was taken to the zoo for quarantine. Regional security: Police chiefs met in Sarajevo to strengthen cross-border cooperation against organized crime, trafficking, migration and cybercrime. Tech/consumer hit: A Spotify outage reportedly affected users across multiple countries, including North Macedonia.

Diplomatic Spat in Skopje: North Macedonia summoned Bulgaria’s ambassador after Sofia’s foreign minister used the adjective “North Macedonian,” a fresh flare-up in the long-running EU-accession dispute. Regional Security Push: Police chiefs from eight Southeast European countries met in Sarajevo to tighten cross-border cooperation against organized crime, illegal migration, trafficking and cybercrime, with Bosnia stressing its role as a transit route. Aviation Watch: European airport passenger traffic rose 3.8% in March despite Middle East disruption, while Israel saw the sharpest drop. EU Enlargement Model: Friends of the Western Balkans urged the EU to keep enlargement based on criteria but speed up integration via partial links to EU systems. Tech/Media Disruption: Spotify suffered a widespread outage, with users reporting app failures across multiple countries. Culture: Deep Purple released their first “SPLAT!” single, “Arrogant Boy,” ahead of a 2026 world tour.

Streaming Glitch: Spotify is down again, with outage trackers showing thousands of reports and a “under investigation” status—users report the app still won’t load while the company stays quiet. EU Enlargement Push: In Bratislava, EU officials and Western Balkans partners said enlargement can’t be slowed by geopolitics, but “partial integrations” like SEPA-style links can move faster before full membership. North Macedonia–Bulgaria Tension: VLEN says it wants to mediate Skopje-Sofia talks to unlock Bulgaria’s constitutional demand, hoping for a stable government in Sofia’s neighbor. Budget Watch: North Macedonia has started preparations for a 2026 budget rebalance amid inflation, energy disruptions and global uncertainty. Regional Snapshot: Eurobarometer shows EU trust is highest in Albania and lowest in Serbia; and weekend work remains common across the Balkans, with Greece leading.