Albania
The Government is about to introduce an anti-corruption register, the economic confidence index fell by two percentage points to 99.9 in October, and the World Bank predicts poverty could increase by 8.4%. The Justice Ministry’s Anti-Corruption Unit would manage the electronic register of all corruption complaints. The poverty increase would follow high electricity and food prices.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
The Republika Srpska (RS) President’s budget is five times bigger, the RS Opposition candidate Jelena Trivic accused her Party’s colleague Drasko Stanivukocvic of helping “the regime to overthrow [her],” and HDZ’s leader Covic announced the Government formation negotiation in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Incoming President Dodik will have some 28,2 million euros ($29,1 million) at his disposal. Trivic stated, “About the fact that he didn’t say a word about the election thefts, that’s clear; he supported and helped Dodik in the theft.” Covic said he expects the Council of Ministers Chairman to be from the HDZ.
Croatia
European Parliament approved admission to the Schengen zone, the Government launched a probe into food and retail group Fortenova sale by Sberbank, and the county was named eighth among the top 10 retirement places in the world. European Parliament President Metsola said, “Croatia’s place is in Schengen. Criteria have been met.” A United Arab Emirates investor Saif Alektbi purchased a 43.4% stake in the company without approval from any state body. Global travel site Big 7 Travel referred to the low cost of living, high quality of life, and overall easiness of obtaining a visa/residency.
Kosovo
Hundreds of Serb police officers resigned, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg has called on the Serbia and Kosovo leaders to refrain from unilateral actions escalating the ongoing tensions, and the constant tension seemingly created a chance for Kosovo politicians’ unity. Some 600 police officers handed their badges, cuffs, and weapons. The Future of Kosovo leader Ramush Haradinaj stated, “Even though I was part of the meeting with Prime Minister Kurti, I was forced to leave the meeting because Kurti was giving lectures and did not explain to us why he broke relations with America and why he was not coming back to fulfill their request.”
Montenegro
President Djukanovic returned the President Law Amendments to Parliament for re-decision, thousands of citizens protested against the Parliament’s attempt to change the President’s Law, and Speaker Danijela Djurovic organized a meeting with the parliamentary party leaders. Djukanovic returned the Law on Amendments to Djurovic on the ground of preserving constitutionality, legality, and legal certainty in the political and legal system of the state. Some 15000 protesters shouted slogans against outgoing Prime Minister Abazovic. The Democratic Front leaders left the meeting due to Djukanovic’s absence.
North Macedonia
The Government concluded a migration partnership with Switzerland, annual inflation speeds up to 19.8% in October, and the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption is about to sign a corruption prevention agreement with their Bosnia-Herzegovina counterpart. Switzerland’s Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter stated that the “Memorandum of Understanding creates a framework for all aspects of migration cooperation.” The two Anti-Corruption authorities plan to improve the protection of whistleblowers and strengthen awareness of preventing corruption in society.
Serbia
President Vucic defined the Serbs’ move to leave Kosovo institutions as a “historical, tectonic change,” the Government increased gold and currency reserves by several times over the last two years, and Defense Minister Milos Vucevic met with NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Javier Colomina. Vucic presented orders to Mitrovica North Regional Police’s Captain Nenad Djuric and Captain Aleksandar Filipovic. He also noted, “We had fourteen metric tons of gold in 2020, and now we have thirty-eight metric tons of gold, almost three times more.” Vucevic informed Colomina that “the current crisis was caused by the lack of implementation of the Brussels Agreement by Pristina, which did not fulfill its only obligation, the formation of the Serb Municipalities Association.”