Albania
New Bulgaria’s veto on EU accession talks, Parliament passed new NGO Registration Law, and Law on Foreigners approved. The General Affairs Council of the EU has failed to reach an agreement on starting EU accession talks. Amnesty International accused Parliament of weaponizing counter-terrorism laws to silence critics and crackdown on NGOs. The Law will allow residence permits, particularly for pensioners, digital nomads, stateless persons, and those wishing to buy property in the country.
Bosnia-Herzegovina
The European Parliament adopted the 2019-2020 Commission Report on the country, the first official meeting between Sarajevo and Banja Luka mayors in decades, and illegal migrants pushed back from the Croatian border. Four Croatian MEPs criticized the country report for not mentioning the concept of constituent peoples, referring to Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats. Benjamina Karic visited Drasko Stanivukovic to establish better cooperation between the two cities. The Swiss news program SRF Rundschau, the Vienna office of German public broadcaster ARD, Lighthouse Reports, German news magazine Der Spiegel and Croatian newspaper Novosti accused Croatian Police of pushing back 65 migrants in one week of May.
Croatia
President Milanovic on Supreme Court president elections, MPs discussed Milanovic’s Supreme Court nominee, and Prime Minister Plenkovic on Eurozone and Schengen. Milanovic stated that the Constitutional Court was unfair and a political organization with some suspicious and corrupt members. The ruling Croatian Democratic Union stated that they would not vote for law professor Zlata Djurdjevic because she agreed to be nominated in an unlawful procedure, as confirmed by the Constitutional Court. Plenkovic expects the country to join the Eurozone and Schengen in the next two years.
Kosovo
Prime Minister Kurti met with French President Macron, President Osmani on Turkey’s continued support, and coastal property suit against Montenegro. Kurti informed the public that visa requirements remain in place. Osmani stated that her country relies on Turkey to gain recognition and membership in international organizations. The Ministry of Justice has sued Montenegro, the Municipality of Budva, and the company Sunraf beach properties d.o.o., demanding that 4.5 thousand square meters of coastal land around the town of Rafailovic, near Budva, be returned to Kosovo.
Montenegro
Ruling coalition in question after Justice Minister Leposavic sacked over the Srebrenica genocide denial, the leaders of the three ruling coalitions against overthrowing the Government and holding new elections, and EU credit to refinance China debt. The Democratic Front has strongly opposed the demand to remove Leposavic, and as a result, has withdrawn its support for Prime Minister Krivokapic. Aleksa Becic, Zdravko Krivokapic, and Dritan Abazovic might agree to replace the current expertise government with a political one without holding new elections. Finance Minister Spajic said the low-interest credit from a financial institution would make savings and cut interest rates.
North Macedonia
Prime Minister Zaev on the EU’s failure to commence accession talks, the country’s new name about to enter passports, and US Ambassador Byrnes on the EU integration. Zaev stated that the 26 EU member states should not be hostages of the one member state, blocking the county’s EU perspective. Starting July 1st, the country will start issuing new passports and IDs containing the constitutionally adopted name “Republic of North Macedonia.” Byrnes expressed her disappointment over the present situation, adding that the country has done the work necessary to launch talks.
Serbia
President Vucic addressed to Parliament after meeting Kosovo prime Minister Kurti, Defense Minister Stefanovic met the UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, and Government aligned on the EU sanctions against Belarus. Vucic told MPs a frozen conflict is not suitable for the country as the Western Powers “won’t change their attitude and whatever happens they will advocate independence for Kosovo and secession from Serbia at any cost.” In the first-ever visit of a UK Defense Secretary, Wallace signed a bilateral document creating new opportunities for joint training between two armies. Any aircraft operated by Belarusian air carriers will have no permission to land in, take off, or overfly Serbia’s territory.