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Parliament Approves the New Electoral Code
Tirana, Nov. 19, 2008 (AENews) - Albanian parliament approved with large majority the strongly criticized new electoral code on Tuesday night after debates that lasted for several hours. The new code is a result of a political compromise between two biggest parties in Albania, the ruling Democratic Party and the Socialist Party in the Opposition.
Serbia Secures New €910 Million Loan
19 November 2008 Belgrade _ Serbia has secured €910 million from the European Investment Bank to fund the development of its infrastructure and secure favourable loans for small and medium enterprises, Bozidar Djelic, the Deputy Prime Minister says.
One Albanian in three bribed a government official last year
Tirana, Nov. 18, 2008 (AENews) - “At least 32% of Albanians said that they needed to bribe a government official in the last year”, a survey conducted by Gallup Inc found. The figure for the rest of the Balkans was less than 10%.
Thousands Protest New Electoral Code in Albania
Tirana, Nov. 18, 2008 (AENews)- Thousands of people protested in front of Albania’s parliament on Tuesday as MPs gathered to vote a new electoral code for the parliamentary elections in the summer of 2009.
Kosovo Highway Eats Away the Lion Share of Albania’s Budget
Tirana, Nov. 19, 2008 (AENews) - Almost 89 per cent of Albania’s capital expenditures during 2008 have been spent for the Albania-Kosovo highway, - data published by Ministry of Finance suggests.
Albania Rejects UN Plan on Kosovo
Tirana _ Albania’s Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha has rejected the six-point plan presented by the UN chief for the deployment of the EU’s law-and-order mission, EULEX, in Kosovo. Read more
Bulgaria ‘Loses €769m’ from Tax Evasion
17 November 2008 Sofia _ Bulgaria loses some 1.5 billion levs (€769 million) a year from tax evasion at the labour market as nearly half of its people are employed unofficially in the “grey economy,” a study shows.
The study by Bulgaria’s independent pollster Mediana, sponsored by the Social and Labour Ministry, showed that 48 percent of the officially employed receive payments totalling 4.2 billion levs a year that are not being taxed. Read more
Bosnian Serb Govt Spending Cuts ‘Alarming’
18 November 2008 Sarajevo _ Trade unions and experts have rebuffed plans by the government of Bosnia’s Serb-dominated entity of Republika Srpska on reducing its budget costs.
Serbia Seeks Precautionary Loan from IMF
Tirana, Nov. 18, (AENews) - The International Monetary Fund and the government of Serbia reached a preliminary agreement on Monday to build a USD 518 million precautionary fund to support the external balance of Serbian economy, - IMF announced today.
Albania Oil Discovery ‘Worth $11.9 Billion’
Tirana, Nov. 17, 2008 - A new independent oil report release by Manas petroleum estimates the value of its unproven Albania oil discovery to be as much as $11.9 billion (€9.3 billion).
Vast and untouched reserves of oil and gas have been discovered in northern Albania, Manas announced in January. Read more