Employment development nosedived in the 2nd quarter of 2020

Virtually all economic sectors experienced clearly positive employment development over recent years. Between 2014 and 2019 employment growth within the European Union was on average at 6%; for men at 5.7% respectively women at 6.3%.

Recovering from COVID-19: How and With Whom?

OBSERVING the Western Balkans through Employment Observatory Article by Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)

Von der Leyen: Vaccines to Western Balkans “as soon as possible”

BRUSSELS – EU leaders called for greater solidarity with third countries on the delivery of vaccines on Thursday, January 21, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Western Balkans will receive vaccines from the EU as soon as possible.

EIB Vice-President Pavlova and Serbian Prime Minister Brnabić agree on investment plans for Serbia

The EIB will support Serbia in addressing the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and boosting its green and digital transformation in line with the new Economic and Investment Plan

EIB unlocks €340m for construction of Corridor Vc in Bosnia and Hercegovina

With new €340 million allocated to Corridor Vc, the EIB continues to support this pivotal route on Pan-European network connecting the port of Ploce in Croatia with Hungary via Bosnia and Hercegovina.

Coronavirus crisis hits young people and low-paid workers in particular, shows Employment and Social Development Quarterly Review

The European Commission has today published the December 2020 edition of the Employment and Social Developments Quarterly Review, analysing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on jobs and incomes.

EIB: New 65 mln euro credit line for Western Balkan SMEs

(ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, 22 DIC - The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the ProCredit group have agreed on a new 65 mln euro credit line to support small and medium enterprises in the Western Balkans and to speed their recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, the EIB announced. The credit line is part ...

FDI in the Western Balkans should focus on quality, not quantity

On paper, FDI levels in the Western Balkans are impressive. But closer analysis of the kind of investment being made suggests that the region needs to attract higher-value projects.

Bregu: Instead of creating policies FOR youth we believe in co-creating policies WITH youth

Sarajevo/Tirana/Brussels - “Youth makes 21% of Western Balkans population. If we know that youth unemployment in the Western Balkans is over 35%; that it takes around 2 years for a young person to land the job after the school; that 25% of youth are not in employment, education and training; ...

Bregu: Hire women, promote women and invest in women - that is our future

Joint initiative by RCC and UNDP targets women’s economic empowerment in the Western Balkans

Hidden economy at very high levels and increasing throughout the Western Balkans

WESTERN BALKANS – The hidden employment has overall increased in five out of six Western Balkans economies. Serbia is the only country in which the hidden employment declined, while Kosovo remains with the highest shares of employees with some form of informality in the employment relations ...

Miscevic: Addressing livelihood topics of social rights - jobs, wages, access to education, health care – more important than ever

Regional meeting on challenges and opportunities of Social Rights in the Western Balkans held online today

Tackling undeclared work in times of COVID 19 pandemic focuses on prevention of declared work sliding back into the undeclared zone

2nd Regional Plenary Meeting dealing with undeclared work in the Western Balkans focused on preventative approaches to tackling the undeclared work

Borrell: EU will financially support the Western Balkan countries

BRUSSELS – EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that Brussels will not let the Balkans slide into the abyss of recession due to the coronavirus pandemic, but will provide enough funds not only to stop the crash but also to increase the economy, ...

With Covid-19 risks looming large, wiiw sees no quick recovery in sight

According to new projections released on November 12 by the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw), the recovery of Eastern European economies will be sluggish and will depend on success in containing the Covid-19 pandemic without resort to lengthy lockdowns, as well as ...

European Investment Bank (EIB) to support Western Balkans' green transition

BELGRADE (Serbia), November 11 (SeeNews) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has committed to provide financial and technical support for investments that enable a green transition in the Western Balkans, it said.

Bregu: Transformation will not happen overnight but setting bold goals will accelerate the change if we can work together

Sofia - A new phase of regional economic integration started today with the Western Balkans Six leaders endorsing the Common Regional Market Action Plan, and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, both facilitated by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), at the Berlin Process Summit held ...

Balkan Leaders Adopt Plan for Common Regional Market

At an EU-backed summit, political leaders from the Western Balkans adopted an action plan for creating a common market and a joint environmental agenda for the region.

Emerging economies at crossroads as state role set to grow in wake of Covid-19

In new report The State Strikes Back, EBRD says strong institutions and good governance key to successful future

INTERVIEW - EIB to back W. Balkans in speeding up digital transition

SOFIA (Bulgaria), November 4 (SeeNews) - The countries of the Western Balkans will need to speed up the digital transition towards a sustainable economy to integrate better into the EU market, an European Investment Bank (EIB) official told SeeNews.

Maas: Migration from the Western Balkans related to both economic and political factors

BERLIN – Migration from the Western Balkans is not only about economic opportunities, but is also related to political factors, like corruption, good governance and the rule of law, said German Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas during the opening event of the international conference ...

W. Balkans' GDP to drop 4.8% in 2020 - World Bank

BELGRADE (Serbia), October 22 (SeeNews) – The World Bank expects the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Western Balkans to decrease by 4.8% in 2020, as the new wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is delaying economic recovery, it said on Thursday.

Recession Deepens as COVID-19 Pandemic Threatens Jobs and Poverty Reduction in Western Balkans

WASHINGTON, October 22, 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic has plunged the Western Balkans region into a deep recession, with drops in both domestic and foreign demand, coupled with disruptions in supply chains, forcing all six countries in the region into negative growth territory for 2020. ...

Boosting Health and Education Spending is Key to Resilient Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery in Emerging Europe and Central Asia

WASHINGTON, October 7, 2020 – Emerging and developing economies in the Europe and Central Asia region are on course to contract by 4.4 percent this year, the worst recession since the global financial crisis of 2008, says the latest edition of the World Bank’s Economic Update for ...

Questions and Answers: Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans

Rapid assessments on the impact of COVID-19 on enterprises in four Western Balkan countries reveal significant disruption and job loss but also readiness to resume operations

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures caused significant losses and disruptions for enterprises in the Western Balkans. To assess the challenges and needs of the business sector and identify relevant support measures, Employers and Business Membership Organizations ...

Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement: The EU boosts youth employment in the Western Balkans with €10 million for Small and Medium Enterprises

Thanks to a €10 million guarantee package financed by the European Union, businesses offering employment or training to young people in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo will benefit from €85 million in loans. An estimated 1,200 businesses will be able to benefit ...

Recession Looms for Western Balkans as Countries Respond to COVID-19

Washington, April 29, 2020 – The Western Balkans region is expected to enter a recession in 2020, with all six countries forecast to experience negative growth as they continue to grapple with the economic impacts of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.