Albania
Government to introduce prices control package, food import influence price rising, and Albanians second unhappiest people in Europe. The Government would cut income tax, raise pensions, and increase the bottom wage. Albanian Institute of Statistics data suggests that the share of food imports to total imports is 11.4%. The UN Happiness Index 2022 ranged Albania as 90th out of 146 countries.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Presidency members met the Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Russian Ambassador Igor Kalbukhov said Moscow “reserves the right to respond” if the country joins NATO, and the jobless rate fell to 31% in 2021. Serb Presidency member Dodik wants a “constitutional Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Croat Presidency member Komsic accused Serbia and Croatia of interfering in the domestic affairs, and Bosniak Presidency member Dzaferovic thinks Dodik is openly threatening the Dayton Peace Accords. The US Embassy in Sarajevo condemned Kalbukhov’s statement and reaffirmed its support for the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration. In December 2021, the registered unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower month-on-month.
Croatia
The crashed Russian-made drone carried an “air bomb,” the US planes would protect the country’s sky after the drone attack, and the US and Croatia’s representatives held a Strategic Dialogue in Washington, DC. Defense Minister Banozic said the investigation “found parts of an air bomb.” Two F-16 planes were deployed from Aviano Air Base, Italy, in combat employment exercises bolstering NATO’s southeastern flank. The Strategic Dialogue included discussions on global issues, defense and security, energy and climate change, regional cooperation, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties.
Kosovo
Fifty police and customs officers were arrested in a bribe probe, annual inflation accelerated to 7.5% in February, and the EU doubled its police forces presence. The Police Inspectorate’s Kushtrim Hodaj stated that “those arrested are suspected to be involved in more than 400 cases in criminal actions of taking bribes and abuse of official duty.” The new unit of 92 members from the European Gendarmerie Force is from Portugal, France, and Italy.
Montenegro
The Government repaid Credit Suisse to free up gold, proposed an economic package to overcome the Ukraine crisis, and asked Serbia to allow one-off export of basic foodstuffs. Finance and Social Welfare Minister Spajic has said the Government “will not only release that gold, but we will return it to Montenegro, in the context of all geopolitical and world turmoil.” The Government proposed a 40% cut in fuel tax to offset the rise in gas and oil prices. URA’s Deputy Chairman Goran Djurovic said that “Abazovic communicated with the competent authorities in Serbia and asked for the import of 7 million liters of vegetable oil, 18,000 tons of flour and 4,000 tons of wheat.”
North Macedonia
The Government limited trade margins on essential food items, it allocated 1.9 million euros to host Ukrainian refugees, and the EU’s foreign policy chief Borrell for negotiation commencement as soon as possible. The limit refers to the trade margin on essential food products to 5% wholesale and 10% retail for three months. The allocation would cover hotel accommodation and additional services. Borrell said that Moscow’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine was a moment to “reinvigorate the enlargement process” of the EU.
Serbia
President Vucic said the country is in “a very difficult position,” the Government aligned with EU sanctions against Russia for the first time, and daily flights to Moscow reduced. Vucic stated that the country is “witnessing the destruction of something that happened and the creation of something new, and Serbia cannot remain isolated there.” Serbia aligned itself with the Decision of the Council of the EU, which extends the restrictive measures against pro-Russian former Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych. AirSerbia will return one flight a day to Moscow.