The protection of property rights still remains a challenge for Macedonia and most of the Balkans, the 2009 rankings on the International Property Rights Index shows.
The Index incorporates 10 variables, divided into three main components: legal and political environment, physical property rights and intellectual property rights.
Greece at 39th place out of 115 countries is ranked highest among all the Balkan countries, with Slovenia the runner-up at 48th place.
Then follow Bulgaria and Croatia, on the 59th and 60th spot respectively, Romania at 64 and Montenegro at 95. Macedonia is ranked 97th ahead of Serbia at 100, Albania at 104 and Bosnia & Herzegovina at 108th place
Same as in the last three years, Finland tops the Index followed by Denmark and the Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland, Austria, Iceland and Singapore.