Blog
News

Germany urges Kosovo to revoke tariffs on Serbia

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Tuesday urged Kosovo to rescind, or at least suspend implementation of 100 percent tariffs that Pristina has introduced on Serbian goods, warning against any further escalation of tensions, Reuters is reporting. Original post Here

Read More
News

Hague Prosecution to interview four ex-KLA commanders

The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, probing alleged crimes committed by former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during and after the war, has invited four ex-KLA senior figures to be interviewed in January 2019, defense lawyers confirmed. Original post Here

Read More
News

Bosnia asks Kosovo's suspension from CEFTA

Minister of Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia-Herzegovina Mirko Sarovic says his country will request exclusion of Kosovo from the CEFTA free trade agreement after authorities in Pristina imposed last month 100 percent tax on all goods entering from Bosnia and Serbia. Original post Here

Read More
News

Mogherini does not exclude change of borders, but not on ethnic lines

EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, has not excluded the possibility of redrawing border between Kosovo and Serbia emphasizing that potential correction of border should never lead to ethnically ‘pure’ states. Original post Here

Read More
News

Kosovo considering full reciprocity with Serbia

Government of Kosovo is considering imposing full reciprocity measures with Serbia, after on 21 November imposed 100 percent tariffs in all its goods. Original post Here

Read More
News

Accountability and transparency key to fighting corruption, says Head of EU Office in Kosovo

Head of EU Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, in her speech at launching the Anti-Corruption Week said Kosovo has adopted several laws tackling corruption but this should be followed by their robust implementation. Original post Here

Read More
News

Kosovo Parliament votes on Friday to create national army

Kosovo Parliament is set to vote on Friday a package of laws enabling transition of the lightly armed Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into a fully-fledged army. Original post Here

Read More
News

Kosovo Government to dismiss corrupt officials, says US Ambassador Kosnett

US Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett, in his opening remarks at the launching of the Anti-Corruption Week urged Kosovo Government to dismiss corrupt officials. Original post Here

Read More
News

Kosovo Army unacceptable for Serbs

Kosovo Serb MP Slavko Simic, says plans to transform the KSF into Army of Kosovo are unacceptable for Serbs. Original post Here

Read More
News

Kosovo war crimes court to interview ex-KLA commander

A special court with international prosecutors and judges set up to try alleged war crimes by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) is expected to interview ex-KLA commander Rrustem Mustafa a.k.a Remi in January 2019, his lawyer confirmed. Original post Here

Read More
News
Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News
Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

News
BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News
Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News
NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News
Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News
Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News
Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News
Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News
The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …

News

Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

News

BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News

NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News

Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News

Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News

Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News

Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …