Page 12 - SE Outlook Regions 2022

focus will be on hospital autonomy, increasing the digitisation of the
health system, strengthening human capital, improvement of
infrastructure and logistics for hospitals, clinics and health centres, and
tackling bribery.

Rama pledged to raise the minimum wage from the current ALL30,000
(€244) to at least ALL38,000 and if possible to ALL40,000. Salaries of
teachers, doctors and nurses will be raised by 40%, and public
administration salaries by 30%, Rama promised.

A sovereign guarantee of €50mn is planned to support the transition to
new production lines and a special programme will be launched to
encourage innovation and excellence in manufacturing, with a financial
mechanism to reimburse companies' costs to increase their human
capital in innovation, design, marketing, research and development, the
prime minister said.

The government has announced ambitious infrastructure investments
including the construction of new ports and airports. In the energy
sector, the government aims to turn Albania into a net exporter of
electricity. Albania is already encouraging investment into new
renewable capacity as it diversifies away from dependence on
hydropower.

The pursuit of EU accession remains a priority for the government, but
for the moment Albania’s progress is held back by a dispute between
existing EU member Bulgaria and North Macedonia. As Albania’s
progress is coupled with North Macedonia’s, Tirana will most likely be
unable to start accession talks until Bulgaria’s lifts its veto on the launch
of talks with its neighbour.

Meanwhile, following the justice reforms carried out previously – one of
the requirements for Albania to advance toward EU accession – Rama
said he planned to do more to tackle corruption, including through the
digitisation of public services.

1.2 Politics - Bosnia

Bosnia & Herzegovina entered 2022 in its most perilous state since the
signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the 1992-1995 war.

At a session of the Republika Srpska National Assembly in December
2021, Bosnian Serbs adopted a non-binding decision to withdraw the
entity from the joint armed forces, the tax system and the judiciary,
announcing the creation of entity institutions.

Following on from years of secessionist rhetoric from the Serb member of
Bosnia’s tripartite presidency Milorad Dodik, this immediately raised fears
of a move towards the breakup of Bosnia and a potential new conflict.

However, there were signs that this may be averted as Dodik announced

12 SE Outlook 2022 www.intellinews.com