Albania
Parliament committee recommends impeaching President Meta, Prime Minister Rama not worried about the start of EU accession talks in June, and parliament wants to fill out Audio-visual Media Authority (AMA) now. The investigative committee concluded that Meta violated 16 articles of the constitution. Rama said that his government had fulfilled all requirements to start the accession talks. Without waiting for the new parliament elected to decide, AMA is about to get a new board supported by former opposition MP Klajdi Qama, a member of the Socialist Party now.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Former German Minister Christian Schmidt is a new High Representative, the EU Parliament adopted the 2019-2020 country’s report, and Montenegrin Prime Minister Krivokapic met with the Presidency, the Republika Srpska President Cvijanovic, and the Federation BiH Prime Minister Novalic. Schmidt will take over the position on August 1st, following the resignation of Valentin Inzko of Austria. The EU Parliament called on the European Council to send positive political messages on granting the country’s candidate status. Krivokapic said there are no open issues between the two countries and that it is necessary to raise bilateral cooperation to the highest level.
Croatia
Prime Minister Plenkovic on joining Schengen area, the launch of 5G frequency auction, and China’s director of Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office Yang Jiechi in Zagreb. Plenkovic hopes Slovenia’s EU Presidency would include the country’s entry into Schengen in the second half of this year. Telecommunications regulator HAKOM will carry out three separate bidding procedures to allocate frequencies in the 700 MHz, 3,600 MHz, and 26 GHz bands on a national level and one procedure for frequencies in the 3,600 MHz band on a regional level. Jiechi’s discussion with Plenkovic was on economic cooperation between Croatia and China, currently building a 156 Megawatt Wind Farm in Senj and the Peljesac Bridge.
Kosovo
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrell declared that country has fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalization, the Diocese of Raska and Prizren has refused Prime Minister Kurti’s request to visit the Decan Monastery, and Greek Foreign Minister Dendias to visit Pristina in June. The Diocese sees Kurti’s visit as pointless without first fully implementing the Constitutional Court’s decision from 2016, which recognized the monastery property. Dendias stated that Greece would follow a constructive approach to Kosovo amid rejecting its independence.
Montenegro
China is willing to extend grace on the motorway loan, the former bishop of Budva-Niksic Joanikije II (secular name Jovan Micovic) is elected as Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, and Krivokapic proposed that the Basic Agreement be signed on October 30th. President Djukanovic talked on the phone with President Xi Jinping, who expressed willingness to extend the grace on loan until the end of 2022. Serbian Patriarch Porfirije stays surprised and regrets Prime Minister Krivokapic’s decision to postpone signing the Basic Agreement between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the government.
North Macedonia
Police break up a Taiwanese criminal ring, US Ambassador Kate Byrnes stated he wishes to see the EU accession talks unlocked as quickly as possible, and Bulgaria wants official Skopje to present a roadmap to resume the EU accession talks. Raids on several locations near Skopje uncovered 39 Taiwanese people identified as victims of enforced labor impersonating banks, insurance company employees, and judges persuading victims in Taiwan to transfer money to avoid prosecution. Bulgarian President Radev expects a new acceptable proposal to remove the present veto.
Serbia
A significant military donation from Russia, a green energy goal by 2040, and Rio Tinto partners with InoBat on the lithium battery initiative. Russia donated 30 T-72MS tanks and the same number of BRDM-2MS armored reconnaissance vehicles worth 75 million euros ($90 million). Energy Minister Mihajlovic said the country targets 40% of its energy mix generated by renewables by 2040. A Memorandum of Understanding signed with InoBat will cover the entire commodity life-cycle from mining to recycling lithium.