Albania
President Meta returned “co-governance law” to Parliament for revision, prime Minister Rama announced that the satellite “Albania 1” will be launched into orbit in March and “Albania 2” in June 2022, and World Bank to invest 26 million euros ($30 million) in the healthcare sector. Meta argued that the law is illegal as it creates parallel structures with too much power in an institution directly dependent on the Prime Minister. The funds aim to assess damages caused by the November 2019 earthquake and enhance the modernization and reforms of several public hospital services.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Serb Presidency Member Dodik visited Moscow, Bosniak and Croat representatives still without progress on amending the Election Law, and the Armed Forces received four Huey II helicopters. Dodik’s meeting with Russian President Putin went without Kremlin’s usual publicity and media coverage. Croat’s Covic insisted on the Presidency members’ election from ethno-nationalistic groups, with a Croat candidate to be confirmed in the Croat Club House of Peoples of the Federation Entity. The US contributed $34 million through its foreign military sales and foreign military funds programs, while the county contributed the remaining $4.3 million.
Croatia
Government endorsed fines for failure to apply Covid certificates in place, tourism sector lacks one-third of the workforce for next year, and supermarket Konzum now accepts cryptocurrency. Heads of public institutions or municipalities who fail to enforce digital certificates for their employees or visitors could face a $7000 fine. The supermarket would accept Bitcoin, Ether (ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), EOS (EOS), Dai (DAI), Ripple (XRP), Stellar (XLM), Tether (USDT), and USD Coin (USDC).
Kosovo
Slovenian President Borut Pahor visited Prishtina, President Osmani appointed Major General Bekim Jashari as the new Kosovo Security Forces Commander, and Western diplomats urged Government to implement the Orthodox Monastery Land verdict. Prime Minister Kurti expressed gratitude for Slovenia’s contribution to the NATO mission in the country. The US, British, German, French, and Italian embassies asked the Government to return parcels of land to the medieval Decani Monastery finally.
Montenegro
Opposition filed a no-confidence motion in Government, Deputy Prime Minister Abazovic stated the Democratic Party of Socialists would not return to power, and Prime Minister Krivokapic met his Croatian counterpart Plenkovic. Fourthly MPs from the Democratic Party of Socialists, the Social Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Social Democrats, the Bosniak Party, and two ethnic Albanian coalitions signed the motion. Abazovic said he has no “spectacular expectations” from the no-confidence activity. Krivokapic thanked for coronavirus vaccines donation as Plenkovic looks for better trade exchange between the two countries.
North Macedonia
Zoran Zaev resigned as prime minister and leader of the SDSM, progress made in Zaev-Gashi consultations, and two more candidates considering running for SDSM presidency. SDSM’s central committee scheduled intra-party elections for the leadership position on December 12th. The new SDSM’s leader and Gashi will likely form a joint government and parliamentary majority. Mile Zecevic and Frosina Remenski will be candidates for intra-party elections.
Serbia
Protests against Rio Tinto’s lithium mining ambition are still ongoing, President Vucic said he would not repeal the Law on Referendum, and the Assembly President Dacic announced a referendum on changing the Constitution of Serbia. The Serbian Bar Association urged Vucic not to promulgate the disputed Law on Expropriation, allowing for private property to be taken, with compensation, within five days if it is in the national interest. Vucic proposed a new proposal for changes to the adopted Law on Expropriation during the talks with the inhabitants of the Jadar villages. The referendum will likely take place on January 16th.