Balkans - Politics and Economy

Politics and Economy

Currently all of the states are republics, but until World War II all except Turkey were monarchies. Most of the republics are parliamentary, excluding Romania and Bosnia which are semi-presidential. All the states have open market economies, most of which are in the upper-middle income range ($4,000 – $12,000 p.c.), the remaining – Greece, Slovenia and Croatia have high income economies (over $12,000 p.c.), which are also classified with very high HDI in contrast to the remaining states which are classified with high HDI. The states from the former Eastern Bloc that formerly had planned economy system and Turkey mark gradual economic growth each year, only the economy of Greece drops for 2012 and meanwhile it is expected to growth in 2013. The Gross domestic product (Purchasing power parity) per capita is highest in Slovenia and Greece (over $25), followed by Croatia (up to $20), Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia ($10 – $15), Bosnia, Albania and Kosovo (below $10). The Gini coefficient, which indicates the level of difference by monetary welfare of the layers, is on the second level at the highest monetary equality in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia, on the third level in Greece, Montenegro and Romania, on the fourth level in Macedonia, on the fifth level in Turkey, and the most unequal by Gini coefficient is Bosnia at the eighth level which is the penultimate level and one of the highest in the world. The unemployment is lowest in Romania and Slovenia (below 10%), followed by Bulgaria, Turkey, Albania (10 – 15%), Croatia, Greece (15 – 20%), Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia (20 – 30%), Macedonia (over 30%) and Kosovo (over 40%).

• On political, social and economic criteria the divisions are as follows:
  • Territories members of the European Union: Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Slovenia
  • Territories candidates for EU membership authorized to join on specified date: Croatia (2013)
  • Territories candidates for EU membership disapproved with deposited date for joining: Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey
  • Territories which submitted application for candidate status for EU membership: Albania
  • Territories considered as potential candidates for EU membership: Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo

• On border control and trade criteria the divisions are as follows:
  • Territories members of the Schengen Area: Greece and Slovenia
  • Territories candidates for the Schengen Area: Bulgaria and Romania
  • Territories in a customs union with the EU: Turkey
  • Territories members of the Central European Free Trade Agreement: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia (leaving in 2013), UNMIK-Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia

• On currency criteria the divisions are as follows:
  • Territories members of the Eurozone: Greece and Slovenia
  • Territories using the Euro without authorization by the EU: Kosovo and Montenegro
  • Territories using the national currencies and candidates for the Eurozone: Bulgaria(lev) and Romania(leu)
  • Territories using the national currencies: Albania,(lek) Bosnia and Herzegovina,(convertible mark) Croatia,(kuna) Macedonia(denar) and Serbia(dinar)

• On military criteria the divisions are as follows:
  • Territories members of NATO: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey
  • Territories members of the Partnership for Peace with Individual Partnership Action Plan and Membership Action Plan for joining NATO: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro
  • Territories members of the Partnership for Peace: Serbia
  • Territories under NATO protection: Kosovo

• On the recent political, social and economic criteria there are two groups of countries:
  • Territories with communist past: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia
  • Territories with capitalist past: Greece and Turkey