07 - 13 October 2026 | Weekly Regional Briefing
Across the Western Balkans, the past week has put the resilience of democratic institutions, constitutional safeguards and the rule of law firmly in focus.
Serbia is approaching its 25 October parliamentary elections amid renewed scrutiny of electoral safeguards. Kosovo has elected a new President, while proposed amendments to the Specialist Chambers law have drawn criticism from the European Union. Montenegro has advanced legislation aligning its regulatory framework with EU standards, while North Macedonia's Constitutional Court has addressed equality in social protection. Croatia, meanwhile, has seen renewed parliamentary scrutiny over illegal waste disposal and government accountability.
Serbia: ODIHR Flags Unresolved Electoral Safeguards Ahead of Parliamentary Elections
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) published an interim report on 9 October assessing preparations for Serbia's parliamentary elections scheduled for 25 October.
While the report notes that the Republic Electoral Commission has met the statutory deadlines for election preparations, it identifies several outstanding recommendations concerning voter intimidation, campaign finance oversight, misuse of public resources, the independence of the media regulator, journalist safety and restrictions on voting rights.
The report also records concerns about the accuracy of the Unified Voter Register, including unusually high numbers of registered voters at certain addresses and in some municipalities. The first report of the Voter Registration Audit Commission is due by 28 October. These findings place the implementation of electoral safeguards, rather than legislative amendments alone, at the centre of the assessment of Serbia's electoral process.
Kosovo: New President Takes Office, Averting Further Parliamentary Elections
The Assembly of Kosovo elected Justina Shiroka-Pula as President in the early hours of 7 October. She formally assumed office later that day, ending the immediate uncertainty surrounding the presidential vacancy and averting another snap parliamentary election.
The vote followed a prolonged period of political deadlock and negotiations between parliamentary parties over the presidential election. The resolution of the immediate crisis restores the presidency to a full-term officeholder, but the episode illustrates the pressure that political disagreements can place on constitutional procedures and the continuity of state institutions.
Kosovo: Amendments to Specialist Chambers Law Draw EU Warning
On 7 October, the Assembly of Kosovo approved amendments to the Law on the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office by 88 votes. The proposed changes affect important aspects of the court's mandate and operation, including jurisdiction, sentencing, appeals and the enforcement of sentences.
On 8 October, the European Union stated that the adopted amendments conflict with Kosovo's international obligations. It called on Kosovo to respect the independence and existing mandate of the Specialist Chambers, emphasising the need for accountability, justice for victims from all communities and protection for witnesses.
The measure has not yet completed the promulgation process. On 13 October, local reporting indicated that the Assembly would send it to the President after the eight-day period for a possible constitutional challenge had expired, expected on 15 October. The next procedural steps will be significant in determining the measure's legal status and its relationship with Kosovo's constitutional and international commitments.
Montenegro: Digital Services and Financial Market Laws Move Forward
On 12 October, President Jakov Milatović signed decrees promulgating four laws adopted by the Parliament of Montenegro on 9 October. The package includes legislation implementing the EU Digital Services Act, alongside amendments to the laws governing capital markets, credit institutions and financial conglomerates.
The Digital Services Act implementation law establishes a national institutional, procedural and sanctions framework for applying the EU's rules on digital services. This includes defining supervisory responsibilities, protecting users' rights and establishing accountability for specified breaches. The accompanying financial legislation continues the alignment of Montenegro's regulatory framework with EU standards.
The package represents a concrete step in translating European regulatory requirements into domestic law, with implications for digital platforms, financial institutions and the authorities responsible for supervision and enforcement.
North Macedonia: Constitutional Court Addresses Equality in Social Protection
At its session on 7 October, the Constitutional Court of North Macedonia struck down part of Article 60(2) of the Social Protection Law. The provision applied different age thresholds to women and men in a rule concerning unemployed persons who do not receive a pension, setting the threshold at 60 for women and 62 for men.
At the same session, the Court initiated proceedings to review the constitutionality of Article 34-v(9) of the Law on Free Legal Aid. The two matters concern different aspects of the legal framework, but both are relevant to the relationship between statutory rules, constitutional guarantees and access to social protection or legal assistance.
The decisions place equality in the application of social legislation and the constitutional review of access to legal aid within the current legal agenda.
Croatia: Parliament Takes Up No-Confidence Motion Over Illegal Waste Disposal
On 13 October, the Croatian Parliament took up an opposition motion seeking the removal of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković over illegal waste dumps and alleged failures in the country's waste-management system. Opposition parties argue that the Gospić case reflects wider systemic problems and demands political accountability, while the Prime Minister has rejected the accusations.
The dispute follows earlier parliamentary scrutiny of hazardous waste disposal and demands for remediation, environmental monitoring and stronger oversight of waste-management practices. The current motion brings questions of government accountability into the debate over environmental enforcement, the handling of hazardous waste and the effectiveness of existing safeguards.
The case illustrates how environmental compliance can become a wider institutional issue when questions arise about the implementation of legislation, the response of public authorities and the allocation of political responsibility.
Editor's Note
This week's developments demonstrate that the rule of law depends on more than the adoption of legislation. Serbia's forthcoming elections will test the implementation of electoral safeguards, while Kosovo faces scrutiny over both constitutional continuity and the compatibility of domestic legislation with international commitments.
Montenegro's regulatory reforms illustrate the demands of EU legal alignment, and North Macedonia's Constitutional Court has reaffirmed the importance of constitutional standards in social protection. In Croatia, the waste-management dispute has become a test of parliamentary oversight and political accountability.
Across the region, institutional credibility depends on whether legal safeguards are applied consistently, public authorities remain accountable and domestic decisions respect constitutional and international obligations.
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