Albania
The country is preparing for the upcoming parliamentary elections in April as Prime Minister Rama strengthens his friendship with Turkish President Erdoğan. Prime Minister Rama met with Turkish President Erdoğan to discuss the Greek-Albanian agreement on referring the border demarcation dispute to the International Court of Justice in the Hague. The latter tries to void the deal. Following the meeting, and as promised by President Erdoğan, the Fier Regional Hospital’s construction begins, serving as a center for the future transfer of technology and knowledge from the Turkish to the Albanian health system. In preparation for the April parliamentary elections, the county considers buying a US identification system to prevent people from voting under the absentee voters’ names.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
The migrant crisis threatens to escalate as local politicians deal with internal political disputes. Some 2,500 migrants stay in heated tents near the northwestern city of Bihac, where a local was stabbed apparently by a group of Moroccan citizens, furthering already existing animosity between the local population and migrants. Meanwhile, the Serb-dominated entity celebrated the Republika Srpska Day, disputed by Bosniaks and Croats and ruled by the Constitutional Court as unconstitutional. A subject of disagreement between the ethno-nationalistic groups, the celebration took attention from the country’s ongoing migrant crisis.
Croatia
Earthquakes revealed solidarity, extremism, and corruption. The region came together to help the affected Sisak-Moslavina County via state-initiated donations, individually-raised funds, and volunteers helping on the field. A small group of volunteers misused the site to verbally attack a Croatian politician of Serb ethnicity, Milorad Pupovac, by saying: “Kill Serb!” and presenting a Nazi salute as he came to visit a Serb-populated region of Croatia. The Sisak-Moslavina County was a big post-war construction site where some 150.000 family houses built for Croat and Serb returnees failed to meet standard construction specifications.
Kosovo
The country strengthened military cooperation with the US just before the scheduled parliamentary elections. Kosovo Security Force will participate in future international peacekeeping missions as a part of the Iowa National Guard. Acting president Osmani proposes that the Kosovo-Serbia Washington Agreement brokered by President Trump’s administration should be reviewed as it is harmful to the county. Furthermore, Osmani sets February 14 as the date for early parliamentary elections, following the country’s top court decision to annul the June parliamentary results.
Montenegro
Tensions around the Law on Freedom of Religion remain active as President Djukanovic refused to approve proposed amendments to the Law. President Djukanovic sent the amendments back to parliament, claiming there was no quorum to vote on the Law as some members were not present in the parliament physically. The amendments aim to override the original version of the Law adopted a year ago, stipulating that religious communities must prove property ownership from before 1918, which undermines the Serbian Orthodox Church property rights in Montenegro.
North Macedonia
The Bulgarian EU accession blockade remains the main political topic. Official Skopje will work with Bulgaria to overcome the present obstacles, looking forward to more progress during the ongoing Portuguese EU Presidency. However, Prime minister Zaev expects no significant improvement before the Bulgarian parliamentary elections set for the end of March.
Serbia
Balkan Stream became operational, Law on digital assets goes into effect, and President Vucic visits the Hilandar Monastery in Atos, Greece. Serbian section of the TurkStream, Balkan Stream gas pipeline became operational with 13.88 billion cubic meters (m³) of gas set for annual delivery, costing $155 per 1,000 m³. The Law on digital assets leaves crypto service providers six months to comply if they want to trade and mine. President Vucic’s visit to the Hilandar Monastery is the first official presidential visit to that Serbian monastery in the last two decades. Vucic’s political opposition defines the visit as a marketing trick.