Albania
Defense Minister Niko Peleshi called on the youth to join the armed forces, former Prime Minister Berisha called for protests to overthrow Prime minister Rama’s Government, and agricultural production fell 10% due to the climate changes. Four hundred vacancies are open to all 18-27 years of age and with secondary education or above. Berisha sees the recent personal data leak of some 600 thousand citizens as a reason enough to abolish the present Government. Thousands of hectares of land flooded this Spring would reduce production.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
US envoy Palmer and EU envoy Eichhorst will soon visit Sarajevo, the Republika Srpska annual inflation increased to 5.2% in November 2021, and major companies threatened not to sign new contracts with the dominant electricity provider in Bosniak-Croat Federation. The envoys stated that the blockade of elections is a red line with consequences. The lawmakers limited the original price from 200% to 20% increase.
Croatia
The Government is about to halt talks with Hungary’s MOL on INA shares buyback, industrial sales up 20% year-over-year in October 2021, and Prime Minister Plenkovic faced protests during the earthquake anniversary Petrinja visit. The Government wants to challenge an arbitration court’s ruling on MOL’s management rights. Residents booed and shouted: “We want reconstruction!” and even hit Plenkovic with a snowball.
Kosovo
KEDS extends daily power cuts over the ongoing energy crisis, citizens use generators to overcome the problem, and the Government declared a Russian UN Mission employee persona non grata. The Government announced a 60-day emergency energy situation. The one-day expense for diesel generators is some 100 euros ($114). Prime Minister Kurti decided to expel the employee due to his “harmful activity.”
Montenegro
A bilateral inter-parliamentary agreement signed with Turkey, Deputy Prime Minister Abazovic confident that DPS’s leader Djukanovic will step down, and the “Golden Passport” Program is still ongoing despite EU criticism. Parliament Speaker Becic emphasized that Turkey-Montenegro ties are at “the highest level in history.” The Government extended its economic citizenship program until December 2022.
North Macedonia
Citizens are facing higher electricity bills starting from January 1st, President Pendarovski has handed SDSM leader Kovachevski a mandate to form a new government, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) would finance gas interconnector with Greece. Energy and Water Services Regulatory Commission decided to increase prices for electricity used by households by 9.48%. EIB provides 28.9 million euros ($32.8 million) for the 68 km gas interconnector section.
Serbia
China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) to build 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) section of Corridor XI, Prime Minister Brnabic stated that Serbia could not say “No” to Rio Tinto, and President Vucic commented on the ongoing weapons procurement. CRBC will build a 75-kilometer section of pan-European Corridor XI connecting the city of Pozega and the village of Duga Poljana. Brnabic stated that “arbitration is likely” if the environmental impact study showed that it is alright to continue exploration, but the citizens say no at the referendum. Vucic said that the Government is buying defensive weapons that would serve as “a deterrent to anyone who would think of endangering our country.”