Emerging Europe Monitor RSS FeedEmerging Europe Monitor RSS Feed from Business Monitor InternationalBaghdad Bound (South East Europe Monitor)- August 19, 2008 Bosnia is sending a new 49-strong infantry unit to Iraq, which will work alongside US troops in Baghdad. The unit will be posted on six-month rotations, and is multi-ethnic in composition. The decision to up Bosnia's presence in Iraq is a reflection of the country's desire to deepen ties with the US, and to make a stronger case for early admission to NATO and other euro-Atlantic institutions. As such, it is a positive move, but Bosnia still has a long way to go before it is 'mission...http://www.emergingeuropemonitor.com/file/68333/Baghdad-Bound.html The Currency Conundrum (South East Europe Monitor)- August 15, 2008 BMI View: Bosnia's Republika Srpska (RS) has been hinting at an early move towards unilaterally adopting the euro as the national currency. We think that this remains an unlikely proposition, amid resistance from the central bank, the EU and the international community. The existing BAMEUR currency peg looks set to remain in place throughout of current forecasthttp://www.emergingeuropemonitor.com/file/68260/The-Currency-Conundrum.html On The EU Path (South East Europe Monitor)- August 15, 2008 Croatia continues to make good progress towards EU membership, and following recent talks with the EU has opened 21 of the 35 chapters of the acquis. The often contentious 'free movement of goods' chapter has just been opened, and will likely be the topic of considerable debate over the coming months. So far, three chapters have been closed. The European Commission is looking to in November give Croatia a road map to starting negotiations by November 2009. There is still an outside chance of...http://www.emergingeuropemonitor.com/file/68258/On-The-EU-Path.html Macroeconomic Forecast Croatia (South East Europe Monitor)- August 15, 2008 The government may be being too optimistic in its fiscal and growth projections, but we think that its 3.0% inflation forecast for 2011 is spot on. This is exactly in line with our own expectations. We think that consumer prices, which rose 7.6% y-o-y in June will peak this year, given that international energy and food prices look as if they have already topped out. Continued appreciation of the kuna against the euro will help keep price growth in check, as will the government's ongoing...http://www.emergingeuropemonitor.com/file/68259/Macroeconomic-Forecast-Croatia.html |