The prices of Easter goods are rising

The Easter meal in the Balkan countries will be more expensive this year, BTA reports. Lamb in Serbia costs about 1,400 dinars (EUR 11.5) per kilogram in supermarkets. On Good Friday, fish is traditionally eaten in Serbia and costs EUR 6-10 per kilo. 10 medium-sized eggs cost EUR 1.30-2.50. In Greece, the price of lamb has increased by up to 3 euros and sells for EUR 11-15 per kilogram. Eggs cost between 30–35 eurocents each, up to 60 eurocents for organic farm eggs. Fruits and vegetables are up by 4–7%. The price of Easter sweet bread (tsoureki) has increased by 10% to EUR 7-15 per kilo.

Romanians will have the most expensive Easter in 30 years. Lamb is around 40 lei (EUR 8) per kilogram, and a kilo of Easter sweet bread costs 100 lei (20 euros).

Lamb in North Macedonia costs 650-670 denars (EUR 10-11) per kilo. Depending on their size, 10 eggs cost between EUR 1.10 and EUR 1.50.

Trade unions in Croatia report a noticeable increase in the cost of the Easter basket.

A new bridge over the Prut River will connect Romania and Moldova

Officials from Romania, Moldova and the European Union will attend the ceremonial launch of construction of the road bridge over the Prut River, which will connect the two neighboring countries via the so-called "Union Motorway", reports AGERPRES.

The construction of the Ungheni–Golaiești bridge, part of Romania’s A8 motorway, will begin on April 26. It will connect the Romanian cities of Târgu Mureș and Iași with the Moldovan city of Ungheni and the national R1 road to the capital Chisinau.

According to the Moldovan authorities, traffic on the new bridge is expected to begin in the autumn of 2026, while the completion of the "Union Motorway" is expected by 2030. The project is entirely funded by the EU, with an investment exceeding EUR 30 million. The bridge will span 261 meters, with four lanes and a sidewalk.

The spring frost damages fruit trees and vineyards in Türkiye

Turkish farmers are reporting losses caused by a sudden drop in temperatures this spring. ''Türkiye is currently grappling with one of the most severe agricultural frosts in its modern history, as a sudden and dramatic drop in temperatures has triggered widespread damage to crops and farmland across nearly every region of the country'', announced turkiyetoday.com. ''The abrupt shift in weather followed an unusually warm spell, with daytime temperatures reaching up to 20 degrees Celsius in many provinces earlier in the month'', turkiyetoday.com wrote further. According to turkiyetoday.com, within just few days this week, temperatures dropped sharply to 5 degrees Celcius, and in some regions, even below 0 degrees Celsius. ''The frost has primarily affected fruit trees, vineyards and early vegetable fields, particularly in central and eastern provinces, where the cold was most intense'', turkiyetoday.com said.

Agriculture Minister İbrahim Yumaklı compared the situation to 2014, when frost damage to crops was the most severe in the 21st century. 

Professor Đuro Macut is the new Prime Minister of Serbia

Serbia has a new government after former Prime Minister Miloš Vučević resigned following protests sparked by the collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad—a tragedy that claimed the lives of 16 people. The new government consists of 25 ministries and five ministers without portfolio. The cabinet includes members of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, the Socialist Party of Serbia, as well as independents. Miloš Vučević and former pro-Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, who is on the US sanctions list, are not on the new line-up. The new cabinet headed by Professor Đuro Macut includes some controversial figures. ''At first glance, it is evident that the new government does not include any new names that would suggest a kind of compromise or dialogue with the student movement. Instead, there are several members expected to adopt even sharper rhetoric. The Minister of Education will, instead of Slavica Đukić Dejanović, be Dejan Vuk Stanković, a professor who has opposed student blockades from the outset'', NIN wrote.