Dear reader,
The alarming situation in Italy has led Albania to take the next step against coronavirus. Today’s government meeting is expected to discuss new measures related to coronavirus. The Ministry of Health has announced that additional measures to prevent coronavirus spread will be taken by experts.
This morning the first two cases of corona virus infection are reported in Albania.
Deputy Prime Minister Erion Brace calls for calm. “Now it takes tranquility, self-control, discipline to enforce every protocol and every rule announced, determination not to allow it to spread everywhere! Anyone who has entered Italy from Albania in the last two weeks and has signs of the flu, call 127; Anyone who has entered Italy from Albania in the last two weeks must self-quarantine for 14 days; The rest is hygiene, hygiene, hygiene!
This is bad news indeed, but we should not forget what else is happening in Europe and in Albania. The new recommendation by the EU commission is encouraging although the Albanian prime Minister plays down expectations because of what happened in 2019 because of the French no. But anyway let´s stay optimistic in the light of the – agreed on – changed procedures. If France now says yes, no doubt even The Netherlands and Denmark will line up.
The EU Commission is very outspoken!.
“The Commission stands firmly by its recommendations to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia and I hope that the Member States will take a positive decision in the coming weeks.” Read on…
About the investment climate
On March 3. the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Albania held a discussion table with Tax Administration Head Delina Ibrahimaj. “Albania does not offer competitive policies to foreign investors,” AmCham Head Enio Jaço said, adding that U.S. companies asked for attractive tax policies that eliminate obstacles and differences with other countries in the region. Other issued discussed in the meeting were those related to unfair competition and fiscal evasion in the Albanian economy; the lack of instruction and/or guidance by the Tax Administration when new laws are introduced; and issues affecting the Value-added Tax (VAT) reimbursement process.
Ibrahimaj, on the other hand, said that co-operation with business was very important to her institution. “The tax strategy aims at reducing informality, avoid evasion, and increase voluntary declarations. In collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economy, we are developing a five-year midterm strategy, and this requires consultation with businesses,”
Ilir Meta on his knees – for the “people” and the Constitution.
The Venice Commission calls that “the responsible institutions ‘should make a bilateral disarma-ment’ on this issue, for the sake of democracy in Albania.Facts about Albania!
From a daily, commercial, cooking program Enjoy 🙂The Albanian Riviera 2019
By the way, let´s not forget that summer 2020 is approaching!
That´s all for now,
sincerely,
Hans-Georg Nielsen
Albanian Honorary Consul
Comments and suggestions are welcome on hgn(at)albanskkonsulat.dk
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