Albania
Ninety percent of the Council of Europe’s GRECO recommendations implemented, Facebook revealed election adds cost, and the government deployed the army against striking air traffic controllers. The high level of implementation is a positive step forward for GRECO, which has to follow with actual seizures of assets. Socialist Party posted 394 ads costing $21,907, followed by the Democratic Party, which spent $11,536 on 81 ads. Sixty-five air traffic controllers refused to work since their salaries were cut by almost 70% at the only international airport in the country.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Presidency stand divided over the alleged Slovenian non-paper on the country’s future, USAID provided $4.8 million to support pandemic relief, and the government accepted 2 million euros ($2.4 million) Western Balkans Investment Framework provided for Corridor Vc. The paper proposes annexation of parts of the country to Croatia and Serbia, strongly opposed by Komsic and Dzaferovic and feasible by Dodik. USAID provided funds to address the socio-economic impact of COVID-19. The Corridor Vc funds will finance the detailed design of the 11.1 km Pocitelj-Zvirovici subsection project.
Croatia
The biggest ever cocaine seizure, rise in lawsuits against journalists, and President Milanovic on Serbia’s EU perspective. Police and customs officials discovered the 575 kilograms (1,267 pounds) of cocaine with a street value of more than 57 million euros ($68 million) in the containers that arrived from South America. Some 924 lawsuits are active in which plaintiffs are demanding some 10 million euros, which marks an increase in the number of cases compared to the last year’s 905 suits. Milanovic said that still missing Croatian soldiers and civilians must be found before Serbia can join the European Union.
Kosovo
President Osmani and dialogue with Serbia, Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) calls for a strategy on dialogue with Serbia, and Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) Commander Shala appeared in front of The Hague International Court. Osmani said that vaccinating the country’s population comes as a priority over the dialogue will Serbia. KDI calls on the political leaders to reach a broad political consensus and prepare a State Strategy and Platform for the Dialogue with Serbia. Shala faces charges for the war crimes during the conflict with Serb forces.
Montenegro
Problems with paying off China loan persevere, the country sent the Prosecutor Law’s draft amendments to EU Commission, and the net inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) declined in Jan-Feb. A spokesperson for the EU said the EU would not pay off Montenegro’s $1 billion debts to China as this practice is not aligned with the EU rules. The proposed amendments to the Law have been following the proposals of the Venice Commission. FDI’s net inflow fell to 39.9 million euros ($47.8 million) in the first two months, from 68.1 million euros in the prior-year period.
North Macedonia
The former intelligence chief Mijalkov sentenced to eight years in prison, progress on a solution for the Citizenship Law, and the country pushes on vaccinating its population. Mijalkov and three other ex-officials were charged with abuse of power and budget damages of 862,000 euros ($1 million) for buying British-made electronic communication equipment via an intermediary firm. Prime Minister Zaev, with the leaders of the Albanian opposition bloc Sela and Gashi, came closer to find a solution for some 2700 people waiting for citizenship. So far, some 35,000 citizens were vaccinated against COVID-19.
Serbia
President Vucic oversaw the Joint tactical live-fire drill “RESPONSE 2021,” US allocated $22 million additional aid for reforms, and Foreign Minister Selakovic signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Tehran. Vucic praised the Army members and the Ministry of the Interior for demonstrating the readiness of joint units to protect the country’s citizens. The aid is meant to help the economy’s competitiveness, improve administration in providing services to citizens, media environment, energy safety, and fight against the epidemic. Selakovic and Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif agreed to make joint efforts to solve regional and global crises through political and diplomatic ways.