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EU’s Hahn urges Kosovo to drop tariffs on Serbia’s goods

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, says he is waiting for an answer from Pristina after requesting authorities in Kosovo to revoke tariffs on Serbia’s goods. Original post Here

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No land swap with Serbia, says speaker of Kosovo Parliament

Kosovo has no pretentions to expand its territory, or give up parts of its territory, says Kosovo Speaker of Parliament, Kadri Veseli. He said the country needs unity for dialogue with Serbia and criticised the European Union for non-liberlisation of visas for Kosovo citizens, adding however that the EU remains …

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Kosovo’s PM says early election not solution to solving problems

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj says that holding early elections in 2019 is to the detriment of the country. He says 2019 will not be easy because Kosovo will face with dialogue with Serbia and the war crimes court. Original post Here

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Trepca miners entered strike

Miners of the Trepca complex have entered strike on Thursday asking pay rise. Original post Here

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European Parliament's vice president pays homages at Adem Jashari’s memorial

Vice president of the European Parliament, Rainer Wieland, has on Thursday visited the memorial of the founder of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Adem Jashari, who was killed by Serbian police and military forces with over 50 members of the extended family in March 1998. Original post Here

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Kosovo with special law on dialogue with Serbia

Kosovo team tasked to negotiate with Serbia is expected to submit to Government a special draft law on dialogue. Members of the negotiation team held Wednesday the first meeting and confirmed that they have reached important conclusions. Original post Here

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Kosovo-Serbia dialogue main focus of Mogherini’s meeting with Western Balkan leaders

EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, hosted on Wednesday in Brussels an informal gathering of the Western Balkans leaders when they discussed the support for the Prespa Agreement between Greece and Macedonia and Kosovo-Serbia EU-facilitated dialogue facilitated by Mogherini. Original post Here

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Kosovo fulfilled visa liberalization criteria says, EU Commissioner Avramopoulos

EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, confirmed Wednesday that Kosovo has fulfilled all visa liberalization benchmarks. Original post Here

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NATO to review its level of engagement with KSF after Kosovo vote to have its army

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had a phone call today with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj related to Kosovo Army. Original post Here

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Speaker signs Laws on transition of KSF into Army of Kosovo

Kosovo’s Parliament Speaker Kadri Veseli has signed today the laws on transition of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an army. On 14 December, the Parliament of Kosovo passed three laws with overwhelming numbers that it would form an army. Original post Here

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Albania’s Anti-Corruption “Success”: A Manufactured Illusion

By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …

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Week in Review: Surprises and Standoffs

As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here

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How Albanians in America Lobbied for Freedom Back Home

Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here

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Rebuilt Housing Estate for Albanian Quake Survivors Hosts Just One Family

The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here

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Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

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The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

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Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

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Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

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Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

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Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here

News

Albania’s Anti-Corruption “Success”: A Manufactured Illusion

By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …

News

Week in Review: Surprises and Standoffs

As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here

News

How Albanians in America Lobbied for Freedom Back Home

Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here

News

Rebuilt Housing Estate for Albanian Quake Survivors Hosts Just One Family

The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here

News

Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

News

The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

News

Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

News

Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

News

Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News

Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here