Albania
Parliament commenced the presidential election procedure, the Bank of Albania Governor Sejko asked for more financial support, and Prime Minister Rama complained about the Special Prosecution Office prosecuting Social Party’s officials. The first three sessions require the opposition votes out of five presidential sessions. Sejko stated that individuals and businesses need support from the additional income from price increases and non-priority expenditures decrease. Rama said that the Prosecution “should look at any side, as it is looking at our side.”
Bosnia-Herzegovina
The incumbent Croat Presidency member Zeljko Komsic will run for office again, the Central Election Commission (CEC) president Arnautovic said that CEC might refuse to certify Serb candidate Milorad Dodik’s and Croat Dragan Covic’s application, and SDA’s Bakir Izetbegovic would run for the Bosniak Presidency member position. The Croatian National Assembly is against Komsic’s candidacy as the latter previously received more Bosniak than Croat votes. Arnautovic cited the High Representative Schmidt saying that Dodik’s and Covic’s activities undermined the Dayton Peace Agreement. If elected, this would be Izetbegovic’s third term.
Croatia
The country is about to receive 700 million euros ($728,8 million) from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Parliament passed a law for the euro currency introduction, and Foreign Minister Grlic Radman rejected President Milanovic’s threat to veto the Sweden and Finland NATO accession. The European Commission President von der Leyen confirmed that this is “the first payment, and more will come.” Lawmakers voted 117-13 in favor of legislation to bring in the euro. Grlic Radman stated that Croatia “won’t be the only nation to defy the principles and values of NATO, which we fought so hard to join.”
Kosovo
The country applied to the Council of Europe, Prime Minister Kurti met diaspora professionals in the United States, and Foreign Minister Gervalla-Schwarz confirmed that the Government would move its embassy to Jerusalem. Serbian President Vucic said the application would cause problems in the region. Kurti thanked the diaspora for their help while encouraging them to share their skills and experience to make Kosovo even more successful. Gervalla-Schwarz stated that the Government would act as agreed under the Washington Agreement.
Montenegro
Prime Minister Abazovic supports the Open Balkan Initiative, the European Investment Bank (EIB) plans to provide a 2.9 million euros ($3.0 million) grand to accelerate the national education system modernization, and the Police arrested the Commercial Court president Blazo Jovanic and ten other persons. Abazovic stated that he is pro an Initiative replicating the EU Schengen zone’s free flow of people, capital, and goods across the entire region. The grant is part of the 18 million euros education program the EIB signed with Montenegro in 2019. The Special State Prosecutor accused Jovanic and the others of creating a criminal organization and abuse of office.
North Macedonia
The Ecumenical Patriarchate recognized North Macedonia’s Orthodox Church as the Church of Ohrid, Prime Minister Kovacevski stated that Parliament is functioning amid the opposition blockade, and NATO’s “Swift Response” exercise took place in the country. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew declared North Macedonia’s church canonical and valid in the Orthodox world. Kovacevski stated that the opposition is not acting responsibly to boycott the Parliament amid the ongoing crisis. The exercise is one of five held in separate locations, spanning from Norway to North Macedonia and including 10,000 soldiers from 19 nations.
Serbia
President Vucic called the National Security Council session after Kosovo applied for Council of Europe membership, Foreign Minister Selakovic confirmed Kosovo’s derecognition campaign reactivation, and Patriarch Porfirije met the US Ambassador Christopher Hill. Vucic stated that “it will not be so easy for those who think they can blackmail us and put pressure on us.” Selakovic said another four countries have de-recognized Kosovo without naming them. The Patriarch emphasized the Serbian Orthodox Church’s role and importance to the Serbian people in the country and the region.