This Cookie Policy explains how Balkan Insight uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website. It should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which explains how we process personal data.
1. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, mobile phone) when you visit a website. Cookies help websites function properly, improve user experience, analyse traffic, and remember preferences.
Cookies may be:
Session cookies – deleted when you close your browser
Persistent cookies – stored for a defined period
First-party cookies – set by Balkan Insight
Third-party cookies – set by external service providers
2. Who Sets Cookies on This Website
The Balkan Insight website is operated by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Certain subscription and billing functions may be administered by BIRN Ltd, registered in Serbia.
Cookies may therefore be set by:
BIRN (website functionality)
BIRN Ltd (subscription and account services)
Selected third-party service providers listed below
3. Categories of Cookies We Use
3.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.
Examples
login/session management
security and fraud prevention
load balancing
remembering privacy preferences
Legal basis: Legitimate interest / legal obligation
Consent required: No
3.2 Preference Cookies
These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make.
Examples
language selection
region preferences
layout settings
Legal basis: Consent
Consent required: Yes
3.3 Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve performance and content.
Examples
page visits
time spent on pages
navigation paths
anonymised IP analysis
Typical Providers
Google Analytics (or equivalent)
Matomo (if self-hosted)
Legal basis: Consent
Consent required: Yes
3.4 Marketing / Social Media Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by social media or advertising partners.
Examples
social media sharing widgets
embedded videos
audience measurement
campaign tracking
Legal basis: Consent
Consent required: Yes
Balkan Insight does not sell personal data. Certain third-party analytics, social media, advertising and audience measurement providers may process information in accordance with the consent choices made by users and their own privacy policies.
4. Cookie Lifetimes
Cookies used on this website may remain active for:
Session duration (until browser is closed)
Short-term persistence (up to 30 days)
Medium-term persistence (up to 12 months)
Long-term persistence (up to 24 months)
Exact durations depend on the specific cookie and its purpose.
5. Data Protection and Security
Any personal data collected through cookies is processed in accordance with the Balkan Insight Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and, where applicable, the European Union. Security measures are applied to prevent unauthorised access or misuse.
6. Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers transmit “Do Not Track” signals.
At present, there is no universal standard for interpreting these signals, but we respect user privacy preferences wherever technically feasible.
When you visit our website for the first time, we will show you a pop-up with an explanation about cookies. As soon as you click on “Save preferences”, you consent to us using the categories of cookies and plug-ins you selected in the pop-up, as described in this Cookie Policy. You can disable the use of cookies via your browser, but please note that our website may no longer work properly.
8.1 Manage your consent settings
You have loaded the Cookie Policy without javascript support. On AMP, you can use the manage consent button on the bottom of the page.
8.2 Vendors
The TCF vendorlist is not available when JavaScript is disabled, like on AMP.
These are the partners we share data with. By clicking into each partner, you can see which purposes they are requesting consent and/or which purposes they are claiming legitimate interest for.
You can provide or withdraw consent, and object to legitimate interest purposes for processing your personal data. However, please note that by disabling all data processing, some site functionality may be affected.
8.2.1 Consent
Below you can give and withdraw your consent on a per purpose basis.
StatisticsMarketing
8.2.2 Legitimate Interest
Some Vendors set purposes with legitimate interest, a legal basis under the GDPR for data processing. You have the "Right to Object" to this data processing and can do so below per purpose.
StatisticsMarketing
8.2.2 Special features and purposes
Special features
For some of the purposes we and/or our partners use below features.
Special purposes
We and/or our partners have a legitimate interest for the following two purposes:
Features
For some of the purposes above we and our partners
8.2.3 Vendors
9. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect:
legal changes
technological developments
new services or tools
The updated version will always include the “Last updated” date.
10. Contact
For questions regarding this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact:
BIRN Hub
Splitska 6, 71000 Sarajevo,
Bosnia and Herzegovina
To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
