Kosovo, the best place for starting a business in 2019
Kosovo ranks as the best place in South-East Europe for starting a business in 2019, according to the latest Doing Business in 2019 report of the World Bank Group, released on Wednesday. Kosovo is ranked as 13th, followed by Moldova, 14th, Slovenia, 38th, and Serbia, 40th, according to the report. …
Kosovo Security Force won’t replace KFOR, says PM Haradinaj
Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj said the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) will not replace KFOR and is willing to cooperate with the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Original post Here
Austrian Chancellor Kurz to visit Kosovo
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is set to visit Kosovo next week. On Tuesday he will meet President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to discuss dialogue with Serbia and the EU perspective of Kosovo. Original post Here
Opposition says Kosovo’s President wants a deal with Serbia without US, EU
Members of Kosovo Parliament have convened on Wednesday to discuss in an extraordinary session a resolution proposed by the opposition parties in an effort to stop President Hashim Thaci from discussing potential land swap with Serbia. Original post Here
Kosovo’s Thaci met EU Commissioner Hahn in Minsk
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, who is in Belarus attending the Munich Security Conference (MSC) met on Wednesday the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn. Original post Here
Head of EU Office urges Kosovo leaders to stop giving timelines on visas
The Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, called on political leaders to stop giving deadlines on lifting visas for Kosovo citizens. Original post Here
Specialist Prosecutor meets Kosovo’s Minister of Justice
Minister of Justice, Abelard Tahiri has received on Tuesday Jack Smith, the Specialist Prosecutor of the special court investigating war crimes in Kosovo. The US chief prosecutor in his first visit to Kosovo, in addition to Minister of Justice has met also international organizations, and EU representatives in Kosovo. Original …
Kosovo Prime Minister urges political parties to unite on dialogue with Serbia
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj called on all political parties to find a common language when it comes to the dialogue with Serbia. He made the comments ahead of an urgent Parliament session expected to be held on Wednesday when MPs are expected to discuss setting red lines in the …
Serbia promises Kosovo Serbs €50 million investments
The Government of Serbia is expected to invest over 50 million Euro in the Serb inhabited areas in Kosovo by 2020, Serbia’s Prime Minister has said on Tuesday, according to media in Belgrade. Original post Here
Kosovo bus stoned in Serbia
A Kosovo bus had been attacked while transiting the territory of Serbia on Monday evening and one window was broken, but no one was injured. Original post Here
The special anti-corruption court suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is under investigation for violating tender procedures, and barred her from travelling abroad, a source told BIRN. Original post Here
By Tirana Times Staff Tirana 20, November 2025.The suspension of Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime marks one of the most consequential judicial interventions against a senior government official since the creation of SPAK. The court accepted the Special Prosecution’s request …
By Dr. Arben Ramkaj The recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington may emerge as one of the defining diplomatic moments of this decade. Nothing about this trip was improvised. For weeks, senior Saudi officials travelled to the U.S. capital to prepare the ground, defense …
BIRN’s monitors registered a series of digital attacks on media content, online harassment of journalists and threats against LGBTQ+ groups across the Balkans and Southeast Europe in September and October. Original post Here
As Albania begins its last cluster of topics in its EU accession talks in Brussels – only one year after starting negotiations – Prime Minister Edi Rama expresses pride in his country’s achievement. Original post Here
Whether it’s political crises, corruption or political monopolies, our Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlight the stalemates that so often hold the region back. Original post Here
Analysts and opposition MPs say Prime Minister Edi Rama’s public backing for his indicted deputy is a direct challenge to the fight against organised crime and corruption. Original post Here
Mayor Erion Veliaj looks on course to continue governing the city from his jail cell – after the Constitutional Court annulled his dismissal and PM Edi Rama said he will not call early elections in Tirana. Original post Here
In the first of her monthly dispatches from the heartland of the European Union, Gjeraqina Tuhina looks at which Balkan states have been getting gold stars – or black marks – from the enlargement commissioners. Original post Here
1. The Last Cycle of Extremist Ideologies in the Old Continent – Council of Europe In 2011, the Council of Europe adopted the final version of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), which contained many useful provisions. However, Article 3(c), which …