In Kuçovë, Albania, the construction of a NATO air base is in its final phase. With an investment of around € 50 mln in renovations, the former communist-era military base in Albania is being transformed into a modern NATO outpost for strategically important operations in the Western Balkans. The contribution of the Albanian side is about 10% of the total value of the investment, BTA reported. Against the backdrop of its fears of destabilization in the Western Balkans after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Albania hopes that the dozens of decommissioned MiGs still in Kuchova will soon be replaced by modern fighters.‎

These days came the news that Albania is offering NATO a naval base in an attempt to emphasize the country's value in the alliance "in these difficult times", announced the press office of Prime Minister Edi Rama. His statements refers to the Pasha Liman base near Vlorë. It was built in the 1950s. Then the Soviet Union brought 12 submarines and for about 4 years, Pasha Liman was the only Soviet naval base in the Mediterranean Sea.‎

The Turkish lira hit a new all-time low on January 11, collapsing to 30 lira per US dollar, the opposition Jumhuriyet newspaper reported. In comparison, in June 2023, the exchange of 1 US dollar to 23.70 Turkish lira was declared as the collapse of the lira to an all-time low. For the population and business in Turkey, this is a kind of psychological border, the publication notes. According to the country's official statistics, annual inflation in December 2023 accelerated to 64.77% from 61.98% a month earlier, BNR reported. The main upward pressure on year-on-year inflation comes from rising transport prices (jumping as much as 77% after rising 70% in November) and housing and utility costs (up 40.4% after 37.5% a month earlier). 

Ahead of Turkey's municipal elections scheduled for late March, the net minimum wage will be increased by 49% to 17,002 Turkish lira (about $578) in 2024, fueling fears that the country's inflation will grow further. The increase in the minimum wage affects about 7 million workers and is expected to push inflation even higher in the coming months, economists say.‎

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has declared his readiness to submit a draft law legalizing same-sex marriage to parliament for a vote. Some of the deputies and the Greek Orthodox Church, which has a significant influence in society, have made strong declarations against it. The Church even issued an official address on the subject and called on believers to disobey. At the same time, the opposition left party Syriza supports the draft law. Despite the negative reactions, the issue of the legalization of same-sex marriages will be submitted for discussion in the parliament, BNR correspondent Katya Peeva reported from Greece. In an interview with the national television ERT, Mitsotakis emphasized that the draft law aims to eliminate any discrimination based on sexual orientation. The law will not allow surrogate parenting, but will give equal rights to children of same-sex couples. 

Under the previous left-wing Syriza government in 2015, Greece legalized civil unions for same-sex couples. This law resolved issues related to property and inheritance, but did not provide for the adoption of children.‎

Cyprus has not lost a single euro from the European cohesion funds for the past six-year program period 2014-2020. The country is at the forefront of the EU with 100% absorption of the received 880 million euros of European funds, the Ministry of Finance announced. The projects realized at the expense of European resources have led to a 5% growth of the gross domestic product and have created 24,000 new jobs. The country has made the most of the financing of programs that promote development, employment and social inclusion, BNR correspondent Branislava Bobanats reported from Cyprus. 

Numerous plans have been implemented to support the entrepreneurship of young people and women, save energy in buildings, manage water resources, infrastructure projects for the renewal of cities.‎

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova