Weekly Brief

Albania
President Meta vetoed Foreigners Law and amendments to the state budget, and 19 citizens were repatriated from Syria. Meta stated the Law lacks analysis, urging Parliament to adopt a law keeping citizens in the country rather than inviting foreign workers as their replacement. Meta noted that the amendments were unconstitutional, surpassing the Council of Ministers’ competence. Fourteen children and five women came from Al-Hawl camp, still hosting 30 citizens waiting for repatriation.

Bosnia-Herzegovina
Christian Schmidt officially became the new High Representative, Schmidt met with Bosniak and Croat Presidency Members, and the EU granted additional 14.6 million euros ($17.2 million) for Corridor Vc. Schmidt stated he would use the available tools to make the ethnically divided country more functional. Serb Presidency Member Dodik said he is ready to meet Schmidt at Jahorina, but not as the High Representative. Secured through the Western Balkans Investment Framework, the grant will reimburse two motorway companies’ supervision costs to date.

Croatia
Homeland Thanksgiving Day celebrated, the U.S. Visa Waiver Program’s official nomination, and Deutsche Bahn Group to invest in Gideon Brothers. State Leadership participated in Operation Storm’s 26th ceremonial celebration in Knin. Secretary of State Blinken formally nominated the country to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. As venture capital subsidiary of the Deutsche Bahn Group, Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures will invest as part of a 27 million euros ($32 million) Series A funding round in the AI, specialized robotics company.

Kosovo
Parliament rejected Washington Agreement’s Implementation Resolution, EU Special Representative Tomas Szunyog on visa liberalization and corruption challenges, and the Movement for Democracy against Open Balkans Initiative. Introduced by the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo, 24 voted for, and 57 abstained on the resolution. Szunyog stated the country needs to continue focusing on the European Commission’s accession criteria. The protestors gathered in front of the Albanian Embassy in Prishtina, calling the Initiative “New Yugoslavia.”

Montenegro
First time in 16 years without delegation attending Operation Storm’s celebration, Deputy Prime Minister Abazovic called on Serbian authorities to extradite the fugitive ex-president Svetozar Marovic, and Data Protection Agency concerned over unauthorized access to citizens’ health data. Prime Minister Krivokapic stated that he sincerely regrets the innocent Serbs who, during the operation, were killed and expelled from their homes. Sentenced for three years and nine months for corruption, Marovic avoids serving a prison sentence by residing in Serbia. The Agency’s Council member Muhamed Gjokaj stated there is no legal ground for patrons of nightclubs, discotheques, and indoor restaurants to inspect guests’ Covid-19 history.

North Macedonia
The spread of wildfires lead to a state of emergency, the EU provided financial support for greener homes and businesses, and Turkey’s Teknopanel should build a 16 million euros ($18.8 million) plant in Skopje. The government declared a state of emergency on August 5th for the next 30 days due to wildfires. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will provide a new 5 million euros ($5.8 million) financing package to boost green technologies, materials, and solutions investments. Teknopanel should open 120 new jobs and generate over 150 million euros ($176.5 million) in export revenue in the first ten years.

Serbia
President Vucic on the Croatian Storm Operation, Ambassador to Russia Miroslav Lazanski died at 71, and European Integration Minister Jadranka Joksimovic asked for 241 million euros ($283 million) grant to finance seven Instruments for Pre-accession Assistance projects. Vucic participated in the Remembrance Day for some 250.000 Serbs who became refugees after the Storm Operation. Former journalist, military commentator, and member of the Parliament, Lazanski died in Belgrade from “the consequences of a heart attack.” The grant would support the rail and water transport sector.