The EU-Western Balkans summit postponed due to Covid-19

In order to limit the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Croatian Presidency of the EU Council has decided to postpone all informal meetings and conferences scheduled until 15 May. Such is the EU-Western Balkans summit, planned to be held on May 7 in Zagreb. A new date for the meeting will be set in June if the situation allows.

Turkey has widest spread of Covid-19 in the Balkans

The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey has exceeded 800 people. The registered infections are almost 39,000, making Bulgaria’s southern neighbour first in number of registered cases on the Balkan Peninsula. Over 1,800 people have already recovered. In the last 24 hours alone, about 25,000 people have been tested for the novel coronavirus in the country. Turkish President Recep Erdogan has called on senior citizens to stay at home until the threat of contagion is eliminated.

25% of coronavirus infections in Romania are among healthcare workers

25% of the total amount of about 4,800 Romanians infected with Covid-19 are healthcare workers, the Romanian Federation for Health Solidarity announced. Two days ago, the first fatality among the medical personnel was announced - an employee of the Emergency Medical Centre in the northern city of Suceava. Comparing the situation in Romania with that in Bulgaria, which is at the bottom of the chart in terms of number of infections and deaths in the EU, the Romanian media agency Mediafax highlights the adequate measures of the Bulgarian government, as well as the fact that before the coronavirus pandemic the schools in Bulgaria were already in the so-called “flu” vacations.

Dozens of military officers in Serbia infected with Covid-19

Several dozen members of the Serbian Army's First Brigade, engaged with the task of accepting Serbian nationals returning from abroad, have been infected with the new coronavirus, President Aleksandar Vucic announced. According to him, the situation in the country would be much worse without the help of the military. Ten days ago, Serbia's military trade union warned that members of the Serbian army were complaining about lack of personal protective equipment. The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection in the country is around 2,700 as over 60 people have died.

Croatia needs $ 10 billion to get back on its feet

Croatia will need about 70 billion kunas ($ 10 billion) over the next few months to fund the special measures introduced to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, country's Finance Minister Zdravko Maric has estimated. The government has already taken some measures to support the economy, including tax write-offs or deferrals of tax payments over the next three months. The state will also pay part of the salaries of employees of companies in difficulty. Pay cuts in the public sector are being considered.

Kosovo announces willingness to continue dialogue with Serbia, but not at all costs

Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has confirmed to EU Special Envoy Miroslav Lajcak his commitment to resume the dialogue with Serbia in order to normalize relations. In a letter to Lajcak, Kurti said the process should be accompanied by a "political, economic and financial package" that would "accelerate the convergence of living standards in both countries and their integration into the EU". However, he warned that issues concerning sovereignty, territorial integrity and home affairs would not be discussed. Last week, Kosovo abolished the 100-percent duties on imports from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which it imposed in November 2018 over Belgrade's attempts to block Kosovo's membership in international organizations.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova