Albania
The first Intergovernmental Conference to take place soon, Prime Minister Rama visited Ukraine, and the average salary increased to 494 euros ($518). EU Enlargement Commissioner Varhelyi stated, “I remain very hopeful that we are talking about a matter of days, rather than months or years.” Rama supported Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations and asked official Kyiv to recognize Kosovo. However, the 5.8% salary increase was surpassed by 6% inflation.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Serb Presidency member Dodik met Russian President Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Bosniak Presidency member Dzaferovic met Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu in Sarajevo, and the Presidency and political parties leaders met the European Council president Michel in Brussels. Dodik stated Putin appreciates the Republika Srpska position opposing EU sanctions against Russia. Cavusoglu reaffirmed his support to High Representative Schmidt. All parties pledge commitment to Europe, democracy, and stability.
Croatia
President Milanovic reiterated that Ukraine and Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) could only join the EU together, Eurozone ministers gave a green light for euro adoption, and 13 applications for Indo-Croatian startup challenges were accepted. Milanovic stated, “I expect that the Government and its representatives, when it comes to granting candidate status to Ukraine, categorically condition that BiH also gets it.” The Eurogroup agreed that Croatia fulfills all the necessary conditions to adopt the euro. The Agency for Small Business, Innovation, and Investment aims to connect with the Indian market and launch a startup bridge.
Kosovo
The Government approved a new draft law increasing the minimum wage to 250 euros, annual inflation reached 12.5% in May, and the state energy network operator KOSSTT may soon start distributing electricity to Serb-Majority Municipalities. The current minimum wage is 130 euros, with those over 35 receiving 170 euros. Kosovo negotiator Besnik Bislim announced that “ “Kosovo is very close to finalizing an agreement to launch the implementation of the energy roadmap, which aims to put on the track the problems of energy supply and payment in the four municipalities in the north of the country.”
Montenegro
Pensioners protested for higher pensions, Prime Minister Abazovic accused some ministers of obstructing efforts to sign a fundamental agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church, and President Djukanovic met European Council President Michel. The Pensioners Party’s leader Momo Joksimovic stated, “Pensioners have been brought on the verge of biological survival and no longer trust the Government or the Parliament.” Abazovic noted, “Whoever cannot promote reconciliation but seeks strife can exit from this government.” Michel stated, “Now is the time to speed up EU integration by working with all institutions in Montenegro. The next step is to meet all the criteria in the rule of law.”
North Macedonia
SpaceX launched Starlink satellite internet in the country, Bulgarian Prime Minister Petkov proposed that Parliament decide on lifting the EU accession veto, and the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher visited the country. SpaceX announced, “Starlink is now live in North Macedonia! Excited to further access to high-speed, low-latency broadband internet in the Balkans.” Archbishop discussed the future of the Western Balkans and celebrated Mass in Skopje.
Serbia
The EU Foreign Affairs Committee urged the Government to recognize Kosovo and sanction Russia, Standard & Poor’s confirmed Serbia’s credit rating at BB+, and President Vucic declared that from November 1st Serbia would not be able to acquire Russian oil due to EU sanctions. Vucic induced that he could not recognize Kosovo nor impose sanctions on Russia. Vucic stated that Serbia is interested in building an interconnector with Hungary, receiving its oil from Russia via the sanctions-free Druzhba pipeline.