Blog
News

Kosovo, Albania with unified customs in January 2019

The Agreement on unification of customs between Kosovo and Albania is expected to be signed on 26 November, during a joint meeting of the two governments which is set to be held in Peja. The two countries will start implementation of a unified customs as of 1 January 2019, Kosovo …

Read More
News

Kosovo's Thaci meets Russian President Vladimir Putin

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci is struggling to find international allies supporting his idea on correction of border with Serbia, which is dubbed by Kosovo opposition as Russian-Serbian plan. The proposal on correction of border is being opposed by historic partners of Kosovo, and is strongly supported by Serbia and Russia. …

Read More
News

Dick Marty denies Serbian media declarations on Special Court

The office of the former Swiss senator, Dick Marty, has denied that Marty provided a declaration on Special Court, as Serbian media reported, Gazeta Express reports. Original post Here

Read More
News

Serbia’s Police Officer Arrested in Drug Trafficking Case

A Serbian police officer has been arrested in Kosovo’s town of Istog in relation to a drug trafficking case. Serbia’s police officer used a trailer with Serbian plates to transport narcotics from Albania towards Belgrade using Kosovo as a transit, according to TV show ‘Justice in Kosova’. Original post Here

Read More
News

Serbia fabricating lies to attack Kosovo, says Enver Hoxhaj

Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Enver Hoxhaj, said that Kosovo needs a more proactive foreign policy and internal unification. Original post Here

Read More
News

Hundreds of Serbs want to join Kosovo Security Force

Kosovo’s Parliament Committee on oversight of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) held on Friday at the Media Centre of Caglavica a public debate with members of non-Albanian communities related to the package of draft laws on on KSF’s transformation into Armed Force. Original post Here

Read More
News

Kosovo President has no legitimacy to discuss with Serbia, says opposition leader

Leader of opposition party of Vetevendosje, Albin Kurti, has reacted following Thursday’s meeting of presidents Hashim Thaci of Kosovo and Aleksandar Vucic of Sebria in Brussels as part of the high level dialogue facilitated by the EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini. Original post Here

Read More
News

Merkel confirms Germany’s support for Kosovo’s membership in Interpol

German Chancellor Angela Merkel responding to letter of Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said that her country supports Kosovo’s bid to join Interpol. Original post Here

Read More
News

Kosovo to reconsider dialogue with Serbia, if visas are not lifted

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and his deputy Enver Hoxhaj say that Kosovo will reconsider participation in the EU-facilitated dialogue with Serbia if the EU Council in its Decemebr meeting does not include in its agenda the visa liberalisation for Kosovo. Original post Here

Read More
News

Kosovo, Serbia presidents meeting in Brussels ends without results

The meeting of presidents of Kosovo and Serbia under the EU facilitation held on Thursday evening in Brussels ended without results. 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 …