EU’s Mogherini urges Kosovo revoke the tax and resume dialogue
EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, spoke on Friday by phone with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci. Original post Here
Kosovo’s President expects accountable decisions be taken in coming days
President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, took Facebook on Thursday evening revealing details of a meeting he and other institutional leaders of the country, held with the US Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip S. Kosnett. Original post Here
Kosovo’s President, US National Security Advisor, speak by phone
Kosovo’s President, Hashim Thaci, spoke today with US National Security Advisor John Bolton by phone, Thaci confirmed in social media. Original post Here
US Ambassador urges Kosovo to suspend tax
US Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett, keeps insisting the tax on Serbian goods should be suspended, noting however the US gave no ultimatum to Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to rescind the tariffs on goods imported from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Original post Here
NATO reminds Kosovo leaders no KSF deployment in north
Admiral James Foggo, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and the Allied Joint Forces Command Naples who visited Kosovo Thursday met President Hashim Thaci, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and Minister for Communities to discuss current security situation in Kosovo. Original post Here
Kosovo Serb minister in Haradinaj’s Government to be dismissed on Saturday
Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj is expected to dismiss this week minister of Agriculture, Nenad Rikalo, who is member of Srpska List, a partner in his Government. Original post Here
Kosovo’s PM Haradinaj announces dramatic developments this week
US Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett, met on Thursday Kosovo’s President, Prime Minister and leaders of ruling coalition, amidst debate on suspending 100 percent tax on Serbian imports. The US Ambassador called on authorities in Pristina to suspend tax and resume EU-facilitated dialogue with Belgrade. Original post Here
Partition in Kosovo will lead to violence south of Iber, according to expert
Partitioning Kosovo in which Serb-majority northern Kosovo is united with Serbia, as part of arrangements of a final agreement with Serbia, would bring bloodshed, says legal expert Enver Hasani. Original post Here
US Ambassador criticises government on failing to fight corruption
US Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett, commenting findings of the Transparency International’s new report on perceived levels of public-sector corruption, said ranking of Kosovo should concern every citizen. Original post Here
Kosovo Government ‘stable and functional’ after urgent meeting of coalition leaders
The Government of Kosovo issued a press release, after an urgent meeting of coalition leaders confirming the coalition is “stable and functional” and pledged to continue work in fulfilling its program. Original post Here
Awaiting trial on graft charges, Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj has fought hard to maintain his position after the Albanian government tried to dismiss him – but how is the city being governed while he’s in a cell? Original post Here
Albania’s choice now will signal whether it is converging with that standard or drifting toward a system where, as Orwell warned, all are equal, but some remain more equal than others. Tirana Times, 09 February 2026 – The European Union has publicly urged the Albanian Parliament to address without delay …
By Zef Preçi Tirana Times, 09 February 2026 – The campaign that Albania’s ruling Socialist Party appears to be preparing against the Special Anti Corruption Structure (SPAK) raises serious concerns not only about the future of the rule of law in the country but also about the credibility of Albania’s …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – In early December, a Croatian satirical outlet published a humorous article claiming that Albania’s AI minister had been arrested after allegedly accepting a bribe worth 14 bitcoins. The satire quickly went viral online, but it was subsequently misinterpreted as factual information …
Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Kurum waste file has exposed one of the most serious environmental and governance scandals in Albania in recent years, revealing not only the illegal export of hazardous waste but also the disappearance of tens of thousands of tons of industrial byproducts inside the …
by Agron Vrangalla Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – Moscow systematically uses information manipulation as an instrument of foreign policy. In North Macedonia, Russian propaganda relies on several recurring narratives that exploit domestic political tensions and social vulnerabilities. The impact of Russian propaganda in the Western Balkans is neither new …
Parliament now expected to lift immunity. Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Constitutional Court’s decision to leave in force the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Belinda Balluku has reopened a deep institutional conflict in Albania, sharpening tensions between the executive, the judiciary, and Parliament, while placing …
A Canadian on the run in Bosnia, an Albanian’s controversial jaunt to Israel and a Brit looking to the Balkans for possible salvation – this week’s selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories has an international flavour. Original post Here
During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here