EU grants EUR 1 billion to Western Balkans for infrastructure development

The European Union is to grant EUR 1 billion to the Western Balkan countries. The money will be used for improvement of the countries’ infrastructure, said EU Commissioner for European Policies of Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn during his visit to Pristina. The informal meeting in Kosovo’s capital was also attended by Serbia’s Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki. Macedonia’s Minister of Transport Mile Yanakievski, Kosovo Minister of Infrastructure Lutvi Zharku and others. Commissioner Hahn said in their presence that EUR 100 million will be allotted to these countries in 2015 under the pre-accession funds.

Romania’s Finance Minister under arrest

Romania’s Minister of Finance Darius Valkov who resigned at the end of last week due to accusations in corruption was detained. Investigators suspect that he was receiving money from businessmen in return of assistance during public procurement orders for construction at the time he served as a mayor of the town of Slatina, Southern Romania. Currently Valkov pledges innocence. According to data of the European Anti-Fraud Office, Romania places among the EU countries with highest number of frauds during the absorption of European funds. Several state officials were sentenced over the past two years in Romania on corruption charges, including the former Premier of this country Adrian Nastase and over a dozen former ministers.

Greece running out of money

Greece is about to run of out money by April 20, if it fails to attract new financing. In the next couple days Athens is expected to present a detailed list of planned reforms needed for the provision of additional bailout package, so that the country can avoid bankruptcy. Athens is expecting a positive answer from the Finance Ministers of the Eurozone. Thus, the country will be able to receive EUR 1.9 billion by the European Central Bank for its government bonds.

First new NPP in Turkey to be ready in 2022

The first nuclear power plant in Turkey will be ready in 2022 at the earliest, because the USD 20 billion project is now in a standstill due to regulatory impediments and Russia’s financial problems. Turkey undertook an ambitious nuclear program and ordered the construction of four 1.2 MW nuclear units from Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation Rosatom in 2013. Spending over USD 50 billion per year for energy resources, Ankara intends to expand its electricity production and reduce its dependence on natural gas.

Situation in Serbian schools going out of control

The school strike in Serbia is going out of control, because the protests there have been lasting for several months now and some teachers are still waiting for their February salaries. According to the spokesperson of the Union of Education Workers of Serbia Jasna Jankovic, the salaries of some teachers were cut by 30% due to their participation at the strike. Over 100 Serbian schools are currently on strike. Some of them have completely suspended the educational process and others are working with shortened hours.

Dozens of women attempt to free Macedonian TV channel

Several dozens of women attempted to “free” the Macedonian National Television MRTV. The women protested against the censorship and the refusal of the state television to inform about the revelations of the opposition parties regarding the large-scale wire-tapping, corruption practices and the interference of the cabinet headed by Premier Nikola Gruevski in the judiciary system. The protest was organized by General Stoyanche Angelov who is a leader of Dignity (Dostoinstvo) political. The Policemen who met the protesting women were dressed in police vests and were wearing shields. The protesters kissed the policemen and left home, but promised to come back. They demanded the resignation of the editor-in-chief of the News Department Goran Petrevski.

World Bank extends loan to Albania

The World Banks extended a EUR 32.1 million to Albania. The money will be used for the modernization of the country’s healthcare system. The authorities in Tirana announced that they will use the funds to improve the condition of the state hospitals and provide higher-quality healthcare services.

Anticorruption Police officer murdered in Kosovo

A senior officer for economic crimes and corruption unit in Kosovo was shot dead in Pristina. The spokesperson of the Police Department in Pristina Daut Hoxga announced that Shemsi Gashi was killed in Mati neighborhood in Kosovo’s capital city. According to the local media, the murder is linked with Gashis’ investigations against corruption and economic crime.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov