Political struggles and economic disputes are raging across the region, but compromise seems to be in short supply, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlights.
Milos Damnjanovic
High inflation has blighted Turkey for years, with food inflation estimated to be running at over 30 per cent. Amid all this, the country’s relationship with olive oil, a traditional staple, has come to symbolise the predicament of both consumers and producers.
Olive growers and olive oil manufacturers complain of rising costs and competition from cheaper global producers, such as Spain. Meanwhile, for ordinary Turks, olive oil is increasingly becoming a luxury item.
Read more: From Staple to Luxury: Olive Oil Prices Become Symbol of Inflation-Hit Turkey (June 15, 2026)
