Balkan States Fall in Press Freedom Rankings
Four Balkan states slipped down the latest press freedom rankings compiled by Reporters Without Borders. Original post Here
Parts of Albania’s Opposition Spurns Call to Join Anti-Corruption Commission
Several opposition groups have rejected PM Edi Rama’s invitation for them back a parliamentary commission tasked with undertaking a more systemic fight against corruption, saying Rama has no crerdibility in this field Original post Here
New Probe of Albanian Protesters’ Killings Gives Hope for Justice
Families of demonstrators shot dead by security forces at an anti-government protest in 2011 have renewed hopes of justice after the Supreme Court transferred the case to a powerful special prosecution service that deals with high-level crime. Original post Here
Albanian PM’s Greek Odyssey Sparks Discord in Tirana and Athens
Prime Minister Edi Rama says he’ll visit Greece to address the diaspora community there, despite a continuing row over Albania’s prosecution of an ethnic Greek mayor-elect – but Greek officials have reacted coldly and reiterated criticism of the Albanian judiciary. Original post Here
West Must Take the Offensive in Balkan Info Wars
The current defensive approach to Sino-Russian disinformation isn’t working; it’s time for a change in strategy. Original post Here
Albania, Serbia Plan Joint Bid for 2027 European Youth Football Tournament
Albania’s Football Federation said it has teamed up with its Serbian counterpart to organise the European Under-21 football competition together with its neighbour in three years’ time. Original post Here
Balkan Farmers Struggle to Access Tens of Millions of Euros in EU Funds
Farmers in Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia face similar challenges when trying to access funds from the European Union’s IPARD programme. Original post Here
Ukrainian Visit to Serbia Yields Pledges to Revive Trade
Ukrainian Foreign Minister says Kyiv delegation’s two-day visit to Serbia – a friend of Russia’s – ended with agreement to restore bilateral trade to pre-war levels. Original post Here
Political Attacks, Misogynistic Insults Continue to Pollute Balkan Online Space
The aftermath of elections in Turkey and Croatia and the electoral campaign in North Macedonia prompted politically-motivated digital rights violations in the region this month, while Kosovo and Montenegro saw an increase in misogynistic attacks on women online. Original post Here
Balkan Support for EU Accession High, Except in Serbia – Survey
Corruption remains a serious concern for people across the Western Balkans, where trust in politicians is low but support for EU accession high, except in Serbia. Original post Here
Prime Minister Edi Rama stated this Sunday on the podcast “Flasim” that the price of fuel in the country is not set arbitrarily, clarifying the role of the Transparency Board. According to him, the Transparency Board is actively working to reflect the impact of the conflict involving Iran on oil …
Opposition leader Sali Berisha accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of misleading citizens over fuel prices and of concealing failures in attracting foreign investments. In a video message published today, Berisha criticized the increase in fuel prices set by the fuel board, emphasizing that this demonstrates the government’s direct influence on …
The Government of Kosovo has approved the review of a draft decision to deploy the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) on an international stabilization mission in Gaza. The decision to send troops was approved unanimously, with no votes against and no abstentions. The approval paves the way for the decision to …
The drugstore chain Rossmann & Lala, a German brand present in Albania since 2008, has launched a new development strategy that combines expanding its market presence with reducing prices for Albanian consumers. At a time when the rising cost of living remains one of the main concerns for Albanian families, …
Prime Minister Edi Rama, at the opening of a conference at the Prime Minister’s Office presenting an overview of negotiations with the European Union, emphasized that Albania is moving forward with concrete steps to fulfill the necessary reforms in line with European standards. “It is important to keep in mind …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has stated that by 2027, Albania should have achieved concrete results in order to join the European Union. Among other things, he said that significant progress has been made in public procurement, but added that the country is still not within a solid framework of good …
The Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj, held a press conference today where he presented an overview of the country’s economic growth. Increasing revenues, improving digital services, and developing systems through Artificial Intelligence are strategic objectives aimed at meeting European standards. During his remarks, Minister Malaj stated that the Albanian economy …
Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking during a conference with negotiators on Albania’s path toward the European Union, stated that the process carries significant weight. According to him, it is historic and transformative for the Albanian state. “This process substantially increases the institutional capacities of the state. It brings extraordinary benefits …
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, announced that he will invite leaders of opposition parties to meetings in an effort to secure the necessary votes for the election of the country’s new president. He stated that so far he has not had enough time to conduct internal consultations regarding …
The Constitutional Court has declared inadmissible the request of the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, regarding the appointment of members of the Central Election Commission (CEC). Osmani had requested an assessment of a “conflict between constitutional competencies under Article 113” of the Constitution—specifically between herself and “parliamentary groups as bodies …