From Hollywood studios to ambitious national development targets, the region of South-East Europe is not short on dreams and ambitions, but reality can often provide a cold and stark awakening.

Leading Europe

Week in Review: Big Dreams and Stark Realities

Moldovan lei and euros bills. Photo: National Bank of Moldova Facebook page

Inflation is the top concern not just of many economists across Europe but also ordinary citizens, as inflation rates reach levels not seen in decades. Yet Moldova is in the inglorious position of leading Europe, at least on this front.

The country’s annual inflation rate reached a staggering 33.5% as of July this year. Our analysis takes a look at the factors driving inflation, the current inflationary outlook and – not least – how it is impacting living standards in the country.

Read more: Record Inflation Piles Pressure on Moldovan Government (August 22, 2022)

Targets

Week in Review: Big Dreams and Stark Realities

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (both not pictured) during their meeting in Lviv, Ukraine, 18 August 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/MYKOLA TYS

Next year will be a major milestone for modern Turkey – 100 years since the founding of the modern Turkish republic. Just over a decade ago, in 2011, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan set a list of targets for Turkey to achieve by this centenary.

In many respects, 2011 was the ‘golden’ era of Erdogan’s rule, particularly when compared to the state Turkey finds itself in today, not least on the economic front. Our fact-check this week takes a look at how many of the almost 100 targets set by Erdogan back in 2011 have been met today. The results do not appear great.

Read more: BIRN Fact-Check: Turkey Seen Missing Many of Erdogan’s 2023 Targets (August 25, 2022)

Embattled Court

Week in Review: Big Dreams and Stark Realities

Illustrational photo: Juridical book with hammer on wooden table, law concept. Source: Envato Elements

In many ways, the job of Bosnia’s Constitutional Court – defending a constitution under attack from multiple sides – is a thankless one. Its legitimacy has often been challenged, as have been its rulings.

Moreover, as our analysis shows, when the Court does hand down rulings, they often go ignored for years. We take a look at the Court’s workings and why so many of its rulings remain unimplemented years later.

Read more: In Defending Constitution, Bosnian Court is Too Often Ignored (August 23, 2022)

Murders

Week in Review: Big Dreams and Stark Realities

The police station at the Fushe Kruja city. Photo: BIRN

Murders – many of them mafia-style – are becoming an ever more common occurrence in Albania. Official statistics show a steady rise in the number of gang-style killings over the last few years.

Even worse, perpetrators seem to have little fear of the police, or the justice system as such. In one of our analyses this week, we take a look at this growing problem and the factors compounding it.

Read more: In Cold Blood: Mafia-Style Murders Spread Fear and Panic in Albania (August 22, 2022)

Stifling

Week in Review: Big Dreams and Stark Realities

Turkish Workers’ Hold Their Copies of Evrensel Daily Newspaper. Photo: Evrensel

Efforts to stifle what little remains of free, independent media in Turkey continue. This week, Turkey’s Press Advertising Agency, which oversees the placement of public advertising, banned Evrensel, an independent newspaper from receiving state ads.

The move is clearly an attempt to starve the independent outlet of funding. The newspaper’s managing editor sees the move as clearly politically motivated. We take a look at Turkey’s media sector and how the Press Advertising Agency has been used to punish independent media and reward loyal media supportive of the regime.

Read more: Ad Ban for Turkish Independent Paper ‘An Attack on Democracy’: Editor (August 23, 2022)

Dreaming

Week in Review: Big Dreams and Stark Realities

US actor John Malkovich attends the presentation of the musical ‘The Infernal Comedy in Madrid, Spain, August 10, 2022. Photo by EPA-EFE/Emilio Naranjo

A plan to build a Hollywood-style film and music studio in the North Macedonian capital Skopje has generated excitement in the country far beyond its small community of movie professionals. Moreover, the announcement came from none other than American screen legend John Malkovich.

But will anything come of it? If it did, it would certainly turn the country’s anaemic film industry on its head. Yet more cautious, sober voices warn that there is a long way to go.

Read more: John Malkovich Rekindles North Macedonia’s Hollywood Dreams (August 19, 2022)

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