Serbia conditioning recognition of Kosovo with annexing bits of its territory, says President advisor
Blerim Shala, political advisor to President Hashim Thaci told T7 television program ‘Pressing’ that Serbia will condition recognition of Kosovo with annexing a part of its territory. Original post Here
Serb Mayors in Kosovo are receiving salaries after resignation
The four Serb mayors in northern Kosovo who resigned in November last year in protest over Pristina’s tariffs on Serbian goods, continue receiving salaries. Despite offering their resignation the mayors of Mitrovica North, Zubin Potok, Zvecan, and Leposavic, continue receiving salaries from Kosovo budget, the Ministry of Finances confirms. Original …
Kosovo’s Special Prosecutor refutes Serbian Minister: We received no new report on Ivanovic’s murder
Kosovo Special prosecutor Syle Hoxhaj has refuted statements of Serbia’s Minister of Justice Nela Kuburovic who said on Wednesday that they have sent the authorities in Pristina a comprehensive report and interrogation records in the investigation of the murder of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, who was shot dead in …
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
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 …
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
Trepca miners entered strike
Miners of the Trepca complex have entered strike on Thursday asking pay rise. Original post Here
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
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
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
As Transparency International releases its latest corruption perception index, the watchdog’s Lidija Prokic tells BIRN that anti-graft drives have faltered across the Western Balkans – in Serbia especially. 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