A number of foreign leaders wanted to keep Ukrainian refugees who have found jobs and pay taxes in their countries, but return to Ukraine those who are recipients of social assistance, while Ukraine is interested in returning everyone – both those who work and those who do not, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
“They (some foreign leaders – IF-U) themselves differentiated Ukrainians. I’m sorry, but this is how it is – I have all these conversations with them. They count their money, how much they spend annually to support Ukrainians abroad, but those Ukrainians who do not work – they say: you take them away,” he said in an interview with the National Telethon on Thursday evening.
Zelenskiy noted that these leaders and representatives of foreign governments are afraid to publicly voice this position.
“But I will return everyone, not (only) those who do not work for you,” Zelensky emphasized.
He noted that he is asking his partners for “a little more air defense,” and then he is ready to call all Ukrainian refugees to return.
According to the president, after the hot phase of the war is over, a large number of people will want to return. This will be facilitated by the large-scale reconstruction of Ukraine, which will “receive a lot of money”: from business, from frozen Russian assets, from the budget, which will reduce military spending.
“People will come to work… Large projects like the restoration of Ukraine will be supported by a large number of jobs. It is desirable that these are Ukrainians, I think, first of all, they will be Ukrainians,” Zelensky emphasized.
According to updated UNHCR data, the number of Ukrainian refugees in Europe as of December 16 this year was estimated at 6.254 million, and in the world as a whole – at 6.814 million, which is 28 thousand more than on November 18 this year.
According to Eurostat, as of October 31, 2024, 4.2 million citizens who fled Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, had temporary protection status in the EU. Germany remains the country with the largest number of refugees from Ukraine in the EU and the world by a growing margin – 1 million 140.71 thousand at the end of October, or 27.2% of the total number of beneficiaries in the EU. The top three also includes Poland – 983.88 thousand, or 23.4%, and the Czech Republic – 379.37 thousand, or 9.0%. This is followed by Spain (221.90 thousand), Romania (175.31 thousand), and Italy (165.68 thousand).
Exports of grains and oilseeds from Ukraine, mln tons
Open4Business.com.ua
Portugal has a developed and multi-level taxation system covering both individuals and legal entities. Let’s take a look at the main taxes in the country.
Taxes for legal entities include:
Taxes for individuals:
Other taxes and duties:
Portugal also offers special tax regimes, such as the “Non-Regular Resident” (NHR) status, which provides benefits for new residents, including reduced tax rates on certain types of income. The Portuguese tax system is characterized by progressive and diverse taxes, which requires careful planning when doing business or moving to the country. It is recommended to consult with professional tax advisors to ensure compliance with current legal requirements and to optimize the tax burden.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/analiz-osoblyvostej-systemy-opodatkuvannia-v-portuhalii/
War-affected children of Kyiv region will have a vacation and recuperate in Spain, reports Kyivska OVA.
This is stipulated by the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the Kyiv Regional State Administration and the association ASOCIACIÓN VICHE, which operates in the Spanish Asturias. The document was signed by the acting head of Kyiv OVA Mykola Kalashnik and the president of the association Cristina Pechena, according to the message in the Telegram on Thursday evening.
The memorandum talks about joint projects related to the organization of recreation, social adaptation and psychological rehabilitation of children from the Kiev region.
The children are ready to receive for 2 months Spanish families. They will provide their welfare, training in local educational institutions, leisure time. And will also support them after their return to Ukraine.
“I am grateful for such important initiatives, because our children, who live in constant stress, really need such mental unloading. The idea of the project is not just about organizing a vacation for them. It’s about emotional connection: from caring for a particular child to activating support for Ukraine as a whole,” emphasized Kalashnik.
The authorized capital of PJSC Ukrainian Financial Housing Company (Ukrfinzhytlo) has been increased by UAH 20 billion by issuing internal state loan bonds (ISLBs) in exchange for shares of the company’s additional share issue, Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliya Sviridenko has said.
“The additional capitalization means that Ukrfinzhytlo will be able to continue to raise funds on the financial market to continue the work of eOseli and issue new tranches to partner banks. Accordingly, the partner banks will have the resource to issue new loans to Ukrainians for the purchase of housing”, – explained Deputy Prime Minister on Facebook on Tuesday.
According to her data, at the end of 2024 within the framework of the program “eOsela” was issued 8.5 thousand loans for 14.6 billion UAH, which is 65% more than in pre-war 2021, when banks issued mortgages for 8.9 billion UAH.
As Sviridenko pointed out, eOselia has become a factor in increasing demand for construction materials: their production in the first half of 2024 increased by 37.1%.
“Our goal is to move to the primary market to further enhance the economic effect. This year, the share of mortgages in the primary market has already doubled. The program also contributes to detenization – this year developers paid 2.2 times more taxes than in the same period in 2023 – UAH 1.6 billion in the first half of 2024,” she said.
In the structure of loans issued at 3%, more than half of mortgages fell on the military and security forces (55%, 8.1 thousand loans), 8.3% – teachers (1.2 thousand), 8.2% – medics (1.2 thousand), 2% – scientists (313 loans).
Loans at 7% were most often taken by Ukrainians who do not have their own homes (22%, 3.2 thousand loans), internally displaced persons (2.3%, 340 loans) and veterans (2%, 324 loans).
The leaders in the number of loans issued at the end of the year were Kyiv region (4 thousand loans), Kyiv (2.9 thousand), Lviv region (890), as well as Odessa (711), Vinnitsa (666), Ivano-Frankivsk (630).
According to the report, the average amount of the loan amounted to UAH 1.6 million, with the first installment on average – UAH 615 thousand. The average cost of purchased real estate – UAH 2.2 million, and its average area – 56.9 square meters. m.
As previously reported, earlier the Cabinet of Ministers instructed the Ministry of Finance to increase the authorized capital of Ukrfinzhytlo in order to increase the authorized capital of Ukrfinzhytlo by the end of 2024 issue of government bonds in exchange for shares of additional issue of PJSC in the total amount of UAH 20 billion.
According to the information on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers, UAH 10 billion of them – with the circulation term of 10 years and the rate of return at the level of 12.6% per annum and the coupon period of one year, UAH 5 billion – with the circulation term of 5 years and the rate of return at the level of 15.84% per annum and the coupon period of six months and the same amount with the circulation term of 4 years and the rate of return at the level of 16.35% per annum and the coupon period of six months.
The state program of affordable mortgage lending “eOselia” has been operating in Ukraine since October 2022. For a preferential mortgage at 3% per annum for up to 20 years with a down payment of 20% of the cost of housing can be claimed by contract servicemen of the AFU, security and defense sector workers, medical workers, teachers, researchers.
From August 1, 2023, war veterans, combatants, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and citizens who do not have their own housing above the normative area can apply for participation in the program at 7%.
The program involves 11 partner banks: state-owned Oshchadbank, PrivatBank, Ukrgasbank, Sens Bank, as well as MTB Bank, Tascombank, Globus Bank, Sky Bank, Credit Dnipro Bank, BISBANK and Radabank.
Doing business in the Balkans is attractive to entrepreneurs due to the diversity of tax regimes, relatively low operating costs and growing economic opportunities. This report examines key indicators of doing business in eight countries in the region: North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
1. ease of doing business (Doing Business 2020)
Countries are ranked from best to worst:
North Macedonia – 17th place (leader in the region)
Serbia – 44th place
Montenegro – 50th place
Croatia – 51st place
Kosovo – 57th place
Bulgaria – 61st place
Albania – 82nd place
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 90th place
Conclusion: North Macedonia offers the best business environment in the region, while Bosnia and Albania are at the bottom of the list and need to improve their business climate.
2. Tax burden
Countries are ranked by their corporate tax rate (from lowest to highest):
Montenegro: income tax – 9%, VAT – 21%, dividend tax – 9%.
Bulgaria: income tax – 10%, VAT – 20%, dividend tax – 5%
North Macedonia: income tax – 10%, VAT – 18%, dividend tax – 10%
Kosovo: income tax – 10%, VAT – 18%, dividend tax – 0%
Bosnia and Herzegovina: corporate income tax – 10%, VAT – 17%, dividend tax – 5%.
Croatia: corporate income tax – 10%-18%, VAT – 25%, dividend tax – 10%.
Serbia: income tax – 15%, VAT – 20%, dividend tax – 15%
Albania: income tax – 15%, VAT – 20%, dividend tax – 8%.
Conclusion: Montenegro has the lowest tax burden on profits (9%), and Kosovo has no tax on dividends.
3. Registration of a company
State fee: €50-€150
Notary services: €30-€200
Bank deposit: Not required
Conclusion: The process of company incorporation in the Balkans is relatively inexpensive and fast, with minimal bank deposit requirements.
4. Average salary (€ per month)
Countries are ranked in descending order of average salary:
Croatia: €1,150
Bulgaria: €830
Serbia: €770
Montenegro: €730
Bosnia and Herzegovina: € 650
North Macedonia: €640
Albania: €520
Kosovo: €450
Conclusion: The highest salaries are in Croatia (€1,150) and Bulgaria (€830). Kosovo and Albania have the lowest rates, which reduces staffing costs but can make it difficult to find qualified specialists.
5. Office rent (€/m²/month)
The countries are ranked in descending order of rental costs:
Serbia (Belgrade): €15-€25
Croatia (Zagreb): €14-€24
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo): €12-€22
Albania (Tirana): €10-€20
North Macedonia (Skopje): €10-€20
Montenegro (Podgorica): €10-€18
Kosovo (Pristina): €8-€15
Conclusion: The most affordable office rents are in Kosovo, while the highest are in Serbia and Croatia.
6. Utilities (office 85 m², €/month)
Countries are ranked in descending order of utility costs:
Croatia: €160
Serbia: €150
Montenegro: €140
Bosnia and Herzegovina: €130
Bulgaria: €130
North Macedonia: €125
Albania: €120
Kosovo: €110
Conclusion: Kosovo remains the most affordable region in terms of utility costs, with Croatia leading the way in terms of the highest costs.
7. Internet and communication (€/month)
The countries are ranked in descending order of internet costs:
Croatia: €35
Serbia: €30
Albania: €25
Bulgaria: €25
Kosovo: €20
Conclusion: The cheapest internet is in Kosovo (€20) and Bulgaria (€25). In Croatia, the cost of the Internet is higher than the regional average.
Final analysis:
To minimize taxes: Montenegro, Bulgaria, Kosovo.
For developed infrastructure and highly qualified employees: Croatia, Serbia.
To start with minimal costs: Kosovo, Albania.
For stability and access to the EU: Croatia and Bulgaria.
The Balkan region offers a variety of business opportunities. The choice of country depends on the specific priorities of the company: whether it is the tax burden, the cost of labor, or operating costs.
