Linked2Balkan news, the 17th of January 2011 edition

BIH Furniture manufactures at “INTERIORS NEC 2011″ fair in Birmingham

The Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina (VTK BiH), BiH Exports Promotion Agency (BHEPA) in cooperation with the FIRMA Consortium organize a visit of 7 companies from BiH to the major furniture fair in UK, the INTERIORS NEC 2011

Average monthly earnings, Slovenia, November 2010

Average net monthly earnings for November 2010 were 8.0% higher than for October 2010, which is mostly due to extra payments such as 13th month payments and Christmas bonuses. Higher average monthly earnings for November 2010 mostly due to higher extra payments.

Croatia Airlines and Jat set for talks

On January 26, the CEO of Croatia Airlines, Srećko Šimunović, will hold talks with the acting CEO of Jat Airways, Vladimir Ognjenović, in Belgrade. Ognjenović states that the two will hold talks in regards to possible new flights between Belgrade and the Croatian coast.

MFI statistics 2011: the number of monetary financial institutions in the euro area and in the EU decreases further

On 1 January 2011 the total number of monetary financial institutions (MFIs) in the euro area stood at 7,865. There is a net decrease of 211 units (2.6%) in comparison with the situation a year ago. The decline was spread across the whole of the euro area.

A successful euro changeover in Estonia

The dual circulation period ended on Friday 14 January and the euro is now the only currency that is legal tender in Estonia. The changeover was very smooth and successful. No major problems were encountered and banks, post offices and retailers were coping well with the extra workload.

Greece’s Piraeus Bank rights start trade

Subscriptions to Greek Piraeus Bank’s (BOPr.AT) 12-for-5 rights issue began on Monday with rights to the share offering starting trade at 1.51 euros each. Greece’s fourth-largest lender is seeking raise 807 million euros ($1.1 billion) to strengthen its balance sheet and be better able to cope with recession and the country’s debt crisis.

Serbia: economic downturn dampens EU enthusiasm

With polls showing Serbia support for EU integration declining slightly, experts say that the economic situation at home and abroad is largely to blame. Political Science Professor Zoran Stojiljkovic thinks that the global economic crisis has made people think that the EU is not an ideal place to live.

Price hikes threaten Macedonians with hardship

The constant surge in prices of basic consumer products worries many Macedonians, threatening to push more below the poverty line. Macedonian shoppers face more unpleasant surprises this week. Bread and milk have gone up again. The price of sugar, flour and cooking oil is also continuously climbing, as are prices of vegetables and fruit.