Albania
Constitutional Court overturned President Meta’s impeachment, Meta decreed Gent Sejko for another mandate as Governor of Bank of Albania, and Defense Minister Niko Peleshi reaffirmed support to NATO South-Eastern flank. The court ruled that the evidence did not amount to “a grave violation of the Constitution.” During the Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels, Peleshi asked that the Balkan region receive attention in the new NATO Strategic Concept.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
The European Parliament adopted an amendment calling for sanctions against Serb Presidency member Dodik, the first extraordinary session of the Croatian National Assembly (HNS) took place in Mostar, and Standard and Poor’s (S&P) ratted the Republika Srpska (RS) at “B.” Dodik stated that “none of those parliamentarians who raised their hands looked at the B-H Constitution.” HNS concluded that “the formal and legal conditions for holding the 2022 General Elections have not been met.” Despite the ongoing political tensions, S&P expects the RS to continue its economic recovery from the pandemic.
Croatia
Police arrested a juvenile hacker exposing 100.000 A1 mobile users’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Prime Minister Plenkovic announced a package of measures worth 643 million euros ($728 million) to mitigate the effect of rising energy prices, and President Milanovic stated that NATO should not expand to Ukraine. The hacker demanded $500.000 in cryptocurrency before he made the users’ PII – including Social Security Number – available on a cybercrime forum for free. The measures would limit the growth of electricity prices to 9.6 percent and gas to a maximum of 20 percent. Milanovic said the further NATO expansion threatens Croatia’s interests.
Kosovo
Prime Minister Kurti criticized Muslim nations that refuse to recognize Kosovo, the Kosovo Police investigated who unauthorizedly installed security cameras monitoring Serb-majority municipalities public areas, and two Serb Orthodox Churches in Nekodim and Ranilug were vandalized. Kurti said that these Muslim nations are victims of Serbia’s misinformation campaign. The cameras monitor public areas in North Mitrovica, Zvecan, and Zubin Potok. The vandals broke the glass on the windows and the front door and stole 6 euros.
Montenegro
URA’s leader Abazovic met with Democratic Montenegro officials, the New Serbian Democracy leader Andrija Mandic stated there would be new mass protests against the announcement of a minority government formation, and Economic Development Minister Milatovic announced Government’s plan to adopt a 5 million euro ($5.7 million) financial package. Abazovic likely discussed a minority government formation, the protests organized by the Democrats, and the unblocking of the judicial and prosecutorial authorities. Mandic stated that many of their activists and sympathizers are ready to participate in the “Blockade Against Betrayal” action. The financial package would aim to improve the country’s economic competitiveness, including funding for digitization, international standards, procurement of equipment, and support for startups.
North Macedonia
Minister of Foreign Affairs Osmani said diplomatic staff would remain in Ukraine, the Government has started a process for reservation of LNG capacities from the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit in Greece’s Alexandropoulos, and the Government started the construction of a 400 kilovolt (kV) power transmission line to Albania. Two diplomats and 30 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe observers will remain in Ukraine. European Union declared this a special interest project and approved 166.7 million euros ($198.9 million) for constructing the LNG terminal. The investment project worth 17.2 million euros ($19.6 million) will connect North Macedonia’s Bitola to Albania’s Elbasan.
Serbia
President Vucic dissolved Parliament and called for early elections, the opposition signed an Agreement before general elections, and pro-government media published different accusations against the opposition candidate Zdravko Ponos. Vucic said parliamentary elections would be held on April 3rd. Opposition parties signed an Agreement for a Responsible Serbia pledging they would not attack each other during the campaign and not make post-electoral coalitions with representatives of the current authorities. Ponos is presented as a “NATO general,” and that “he would drag us where Serbia does not want to be.”