Albania
EU countries agreed to hold the 1st Intergovernmental Conference, Prime Minister Rama confirmed talks with NATO to build a naval base at Porto Romano, and the economy grew 5.97% year-over-year in Q1. Socialist Parliamentary leader Balla stated, “The 27 EU member states have all agreed to hold next week the First Intergovernmental Conference between Albania and the EU.” The sectors mainly contributing to the country’s economic growth were construction, trade, transport, accommodation and food services, and real estate.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
The country is included in NATO Strategic Concept 2022, Hungary is about to allocate 35 million euros ($36.5 million) to the Republika Srpska’s small and medium-sized companies, and the UK would send military experts to counter Russian influence. UK Prime Minister Johnson said, “We cannot allow the Western Balkans to become another playground for Vladimir Putin’s pernicious pursuits.” Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjarto pledged support during his meeting with Serb Presidency member Dodik in Banja Luka. Dodik stated that he disputes the military experts’ legality and role in the country.
Croatia
Prime Minister Plenkovic criticized President Milanovic for conditioning Finland-Sweden NATO membership with Bosnia-Herzegovina EU candidate status, Milanovic stated that no EU document conditions Serbia’s accession with Kosovo recognition, and Ukrainian workers welcomed in the hospitality industry. Plenkovic said Finns and Swedes participated in the 700 million euros in grants received from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The refugees are finding jobs in the hospitality industry, suffering from staff deficits.
Kosovo
Prime Minister Kurti announced that owners of vehicles with Serbian license plates for Kosovo cities would have to register their vehicles with RKS license plates, the Government would reject any additional conditions for visa liberalization, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) granted $202 million to improve Kosovo’s energy sector. The Government stated that Serbian citizens could cross the border with a declaration form that temporarily replaces the use of their ID cards. President Osmani said, “We want to be treated like other countries have been treated.” Chief Executive Officer Alice Albright stated that the MCC decision boosts “efforts to build a better future for nearly 2 million Kosovars.”
Montenegro
Prime Minister Abazovic visited Belgrade, President Djukanovic met US President Biden in Madrid, and the coalition Democratic Party of Socialists and the Social Democratic Party criticized Abazovic’s willingness to sign a fundamental agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC). Abazovic said, “We are here today to turn a new page and to elevate our political, as well as overall relations to the highest possible level.” Patriarch Porfirije stated that an agreement had been reached to resolve the issue of SOC’s property in Montenegro.
North Macedonia
The Government likely to accept a new French proposal unblocking the country’s EU accession, the European Commission (EC) President von der Leyen inferred the accession talk would commence soon, and President Pendarovski met German Chancellor Scholz in Madrid. Prime Minister Kovacevski stated that the suggested ideas were “the basis for opening a broad consultative process” in the country. Von der Leyen noted that EC is ready to start the county’s screening process. The meeting focused on cooperation with Germany in the political-security and defense fields.
Serbia
President Vucic criticized the recent Kosovo decisions on Serb-related IDs and license places, Prime Minister Brnabic announced that the price of electricity would increase minimally, and a Demostat survey found that 80% of the 1,203 polled citizens are against sanctions imposed on Russia. Vucic stated, “They are planning a general attack on the north of Kosovo, their goal is a new “Storm.” Brnabic cited the costs of renewable energy sources as the reason for the price increase. Demostat’s Srecko Mihajlovic said that 81% of the polled citizens want Serbia to maintain neutrality.