Pacolli asks Germany to push forward visa liberalization for Kosovo
Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli met his German counterpart Heiko Maas in Strasburg and asked Germany’s support to push forward visa liberalization for Kosovo. Original post Here
UK supports Kosovo Army, says Ambassador O’Connell
British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, says United Kingdom believes creation of Kosovo Armed Force is just and advised authorities in Pristina to consult with NATO allies. Kosovo Parliament is set to vote on Friday a package of laws enabling transition of the lightly armed KSF into full-fledged army. Original …
Kosovo's PM Haradinaj urges ex-KLA members not to avoid justice
Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj reacted on Wednesday after news that former senior commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) have received invitations to be interviewed by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in charge for investigating and prosecuting alleged crimes of the KLA during and after the war in Kosovo 1998-200. …
The U.S. Government’s MCC selects Kosovo as eligible for a compact program
Kosovo became eligible for assistance from the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) after their board of directors selected Kosovo for a compact program. MCC is currently implementing a $49 million grant as part of the Kosovo Threshold Program. Original post Here
German MEP slams Kosovo leaders: Corrupt leaders cannot fight corruption
German Member of the European Parliament, Markus Ferber, says corruption, impunity, and non-implementation of laws by Kosovo leaders, are hindering visa liberalization. Original post Here
Kosovo’s PM says EU’s Mogherini has ‘killed’ the dialogue
Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj reacted to statements of the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who stated Monday that she does not rule out exchange of borders between Kosovo and Serbia. Original post Here
Resignation of Serb mayors unconstitutional, says Kosovo PM Haradinaj
Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj says the resignation of the Serb mayors in four municipalities of northern Kosovo is unconstitutional. Original post Here
Kosovo to rescind tax after recognition form Serbia, says PM Haradinaj
Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj reiterated on Tuesday that a 100 percent tax on all goods imported from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, will be revoked only after Serbia recognizes Kosovo’s independence. Original post Here
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
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
Saudi Arabia welcomes Washington’s decision and reaffirms joint stance against extremism Tirana Times, January, 14, 2026 – The United States has officially designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon as terrorist organizations, marking a major shift in Washington’s approach toward political Islamist movements. The announcement immediately drew …
Albania included among weak or failing states despite being a NATO member Tirana, Tirana Times, 14 January 2026 – Washington’s decision to suspend U.S. visa processing for Albania, effective January 21 and for an indefinite period, marks one of the strongest diplomatic signals sent to Tirana in years. Albania has …
In the Western Balkans, “security” is rarely an abstract concept. It is encountered as a lived condition, shaped by memory, geography and a persistent awareness that stability can erode when trust is thin. Security, in this context, is not discussed only in strategic documents or institutional language, but reasoned through …
Albania’s government is poised to waive business tax debts more than a decade old, as part of what it says is a reset in relations between the tax authorities and businesses. Critics say it is unfair on those who have played by the rules. Original post Here
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
On a locked down November afternoon in 2020, as Europe grappled with Covid 19 restrictions, two Albanian men based in Belgium exchanged a handful of encrypted messages. Deciphered years later from the Sky ECC platform, their words captured a watershed moment in Europe’s cocaine trade. A shipment measured not in …
BIRN reporters trace the rise of Albanian crime gangs to the top of the European cocaine trafficking ladder, from remote parts of Paraguay to European Union ports. Original post Here
Political polarisation and government pressure on the judiciary – sparked by investigations of top politicians – could hinder Albania’s rapid progress towards European Union membership. Original post Here
Dramatic situation reported in several towns, while some locals complain of being abandoned. Original post Here
TIRANA TIMES, December 6, 2025 – Albania is once again under water. Torrential rains over the past days have triggered massive flooding across almost the entire country, exposing not only the fragility of urban infrastructure but, more fundamentally, the long-term failure of governance. From the northern plains to the southern …