European Parliament approves visa liberalisation talks with Kosovo
The European Parliament approved on Thursday, with 420 votes against 186, the opening of talks on visa liberalisation for citizens of Kosovo. The vote came after the European Commission in July confirmed that the country had fulfilled all the criteria. Kosovars are the only Balkan citizens to still need a …
Kosovo opposition boycotts plenary session of Parliament
The Democratic League of Kosovo and Vetevendosje have boycotted Thursday’s plenary session of Parliament asking holding of an extraordinary session proposed by the opposition to halt dialoguing of borders with Serbia. Original post Here
Kosovo gets a step closer to creation of its Army
Minister of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Rrustem Berisha, has officially proposed today that country’s 2,500-strong civil protection force be transformed into Army of Kosovo. Original post Here
Great Britain considers land swap dangerous for the region
British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, during a meeting with the leader of Vetevendosje, Albin Kurti, said his country supports sovereignty of Kosovo and every change of border is dangerous not only for Kosovo, but the entire region. Original post Here
It’s worth discussing swap of Presheva Valley with the north of Kosovo, says President’s advisor
Blerim Shala, political advisor to Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, talking on final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia said that it is worth discussing with Serbia swapping of Presheva Valley inhabited mainly by Albanians with the north of Kosovo inhabited by Serbs. Original post Here
Kosovo opposition tells EU’s Mogherini they are against land swap idea
Opposition parties in Kosovo Parliament, LDK, Vetevendosje, PSD and Alaternativa, sent on Wednesday a letter to Federica Mogherini informing the EU foreign policy chief that they are against President Hashim Thaci’s idea on exchange of territories with Serbia. Also they say that current Government has lost its legitimacy to represent …
European Parliament to vote on visas for Kosovo tomorrow
European Parliament is expected to vote Thursday on the European Commission’s recommendation for visa liberalization for Kosovo, announced European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). Original post Here
Thaci says agreement with Vucic does not affect Macedonia
President Hashim Thaci is continuing his tour to neighbouring states to promote the idea of him and Aleksandar Vucic to change the borders of Kosovo. Today he visited Skopje, trying to convince the Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev that his idea would not affect the territories of Macedonia, Albania and …
Kosovo’s President, Prime Minister urgent visit to Tirana
Sources confirmed to Gazeta Express that President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj have travelled to Tirana late on Tuesday for an urgent meeting with Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama. The surprise visit comes amidst the debate on land swap with Serbia, a proposal which is being supported by …
Kosovo's pride at stadium debut
A dream becomes reality for Kosovo’s football community on Monday, when the national team plays the first official international match at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Prishtina – built with the help of UEFA’s HatTrick assistance programme. Original post Here
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
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
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
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
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 …
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
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 …
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 …
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
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 …