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Kosovo President Thaci engaged lobbyists to arrange meeting with Trump

Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, has engaged U.S. lobbyists to arrange for a meeting with the US President, Donald Trump. Original post Here

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Soltes: I Hope visas will be removed by the end of year

The European Parliament Rapporteur for Kosovo, Igor Soltes, during his visit to Kosovo when is preparing a report on the progress the country has made in fulfilling visa liberalisation criteria, said that he understands the expectations are high after Kosovo Parliament ratified the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro, which …

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Kosovo-Montenegro demarcation Agreement enters into force

The Agreement on border demarcation between Kosovo and Montenegro has entered into force on 4 June. Original post Here

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DPM Hoxhaj after meeting MEP Soltes: Last moment to end unjust isolation of Kosovo

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj has met on Wednesday the European Parliament Rapporteur on Kosovo, Igor Soltes, when they discussed on visa liberalization. Hoxha informed MEP Soltes that Kosovo has fulfilled all the criteria on visa liberalization with the EU. Original post Here

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Kosovo-Serbia high level dialogue to resume during June, says Thaci’s advisor

Bekim Collaku, chief of staff of the President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, in an interview with the T7 program Pressing, said that the high level dialogue between presidents of Kosovo Hashim Thaci and Serbia Aleksandar Vucic is expected to resume by the end of June. Original post Here

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Pristina Book Fair opens

Over 100 publishers are expected to exhibit 1500 new books in the 20th Pristina Book Fair which opened at capital’s Youth Centre on Tuesday. Original post Here

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Kosovo PM Haradinaj asks parties to involve in debate on the final phase of dialogue with Serbia

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj addressing media on Tuesday said that he decided to withdraw from parliament the Government’s Platform on dialogue with Serbia in order to launch a political debate. He also said that the Government will wait for political parties’ proposals on the final phase of dialogue with …

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PM Haradinaj meets EP Rapporteur on Kosovo, Igor Soltes

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, has received on Tuesday the European Parliament Rapporteur on Kosovo, Igor Soltes. The main topic of their discussion was visa liberalisation, according to Haradinaj’s press service. Original post Here

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Kosovo Parliament votes for unification of customs with Albania

Kosovo Parliament has voted on Tuesday a resolution on unification of customs wit Albania. The vote came only a few days after MPs voted two resolutions on scrapping roaming charges and removing controls at the border. Original post Here

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Kosovo Government withdraws platform which makes Thaci chief negotiator in dialogue with Serbia

The Government’s platform on dialogue with Serbia, which proposes a leading role for President Thaci in the dialogue with Serbia, has been withdrawn from the Parliament’s agenda today. The withdrawal was done at the order of the Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. The move came after strong criticism of opposition parties …

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EU’s Democratic Blind Spot in the Balkans

By Genc Pollo The European Union’s stance on democracy in the Balkans is increasingly difficult to defend. The recent visit of EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos to Albania is a glaring example of Brussels’ selective engagement, where stability appears to take precedence over genuine democratic governance. Despite mounting evidence of …

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Albanian Court Upholds Detention of Tirana Mayor Amid Corruption Investigation

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania Venesday March 12th—A special appeals court in Albania has upheld the pretrial detention of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, rejecting his request for a more lenient security measure. The ruling, reaffirmed on Monday by Judge Engert Pëllumbi, has sparked significant controversy, with Veliaj’s legal team and …

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Albanian Orthodox Church Elects New Archbishop Following Unanimous Vote

The Holy Synod of the Albanian Orthodox Church has elected Metropolitan Joan Pelushi of Korça as the new Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania. The 69-year-old cleric succeeds Archbishop Anastasios Yannoulatos, marking a historic transition for the Church after more than three decades of leadership under the Greek- born …

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Albanian Government Doubles Cost of ‘Smart City’ Project Without Transparency

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times ) The Albanian government has nearly doubled the projected cost of its “Smart City” initiative, now expected to cost $118.5 million—up from the initially planned $60 million—raising concerns over transparency, lack of competition, and the protection of personal data. The government announced the …

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 17, 2025

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

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Albania Appeal Court Orders Tirana Mayor to Stay in Custody

Appeals court dismisses plea to release the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, who is in detention as charges of corruption and money laundering are investigated. Original post Here

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Communist-Era Bunkers Leave Lasting Mark on Albania’s Landscape

Albania’s communist-era military bunkers – now a tourist attraction but also a reource for experimental artists – are dotted everywhere, from beaches to mountain tops. Original post Here

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Sweden Reaffirms Strong Support for Albania’s EU Accession Amid Geopolitical Shifts

By Lutfi Dervishi Sweden remains a steadfast supporter of Albania’s European Union accession, citing the importance of enlargement in the wake of geopolitical shifts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Minister for European Union Affairs and Nordic Cooperation Jessica Rosencrantz, who vizited today  (March 10th) Albania,highlighted Sweden’s commitment to a merit-based …

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Ollga Plumbi – The Woman from the Future

By  Valentina Leskaj   Ollga, the woman with deep black eyes, who appears so elegant in an old photograph wearing a hat, often comes to my mind whenever we discuss the Women’s Movement. Her portrait, as she spoke to me in that simple but beautiful house on Rruga e Kavajës, …

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Behind Albania’s Forest Crisis: Governance, Economy, and EU Accession

This article was produced as part of the Thematic Networks of PULSE, a European initiative that supports transnational journalistic collaborations   The woodlands of Albania are a verdant expanse that once covered nearly half of the country’s rugged and mountainous terrain.  In these past 25 years, however, they have been …

News

EU’s Democratic Blind Spot in the Balkans

By Genc Pollo The European Union’s stance on democracy in the Balkans is increasingly difficult to defend. The recent visit of EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos to Albania is a glaring example of Brussels’ selective engagement, where stability appears to take precedence over genuine democratic governance. Despite mounting evidence of …

News

Albanian Court Upholds Detention of Tirana Mayor Amid Corruption Investigation

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania Venesday March 12th—A special appeals court in Albania has upheld the pretrial detention of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, rejecting his request for a more lenient security measure. The ruling, reaffirmed on Monday by Judge Engert Pëllumbi, has sparked significant controversy, with Veliaj’s legal team and …

News

Albanian Orthodox Church Elects New Archbishop Following Unanimous Vote

The Holy Synod of the Albanian Orthodox Church has elected Metropolitan Joan Pelushi of Korça as the new Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania. The 69-year-old cleric succeeds Archbishop Anastasios Yannoulatos, marking a historic transition for the Church after more than three decades of leadership under the Greek- born …

News

Albanian Government Doubles Cost of ‘Smart City’ Project Without Transparency

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times ) The Albanian government has nearly doubled the projected cost of its “Smart City” initiative, now expected to cost $118.5 million—up from the initially planned $60 million—raising concerns over transparency, lack of competition, and the protection of personal data. The government announced the …

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 17, 2025

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

News

Albania Appeal Court Orders Tirana Mayor to Stay in Custody

Appeals court dismisses plea to release the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, who is in detention as charges of corruption and money laundering are investigated. Original post Here

News

Communist-Era Bunkers Leave Lasting Mark on Albania’s Landscape

Albania’s communist-era military bunkers – now a tourist attraction but also a reource for experimental artists – are dotted everywhere, from beaches to mountain tops. Original post Here

News

Sweden Reaffirms Strong Support for Albania’s EU Accession Amid Geopolitical Shifts

By Lutfi Dervishi Sweden remains a steadfast supporter of Albania’s European Union accession, citing the importance of enlargement in the wake of geopolitical shifts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Minister for European Union Affairs and Nordic Cooperation Jessica Rosencrantz, who vizited today  (March 10th) Albania,highlighted Sweden’s commitment to a merit-based …

News

Ollga Plumbi – The Woman from the Future

By  Valentina Leskaj   Ollga, the woman with deep black eyes, who appears so elegant in an old photograph wearing a hat, often comes to my mind whenever we discuss the Women’s Movement. Her portrait, as she spoke to me in that simple but beautiful house on Rruga e Kavajës, …

News

Behind Albania’s Forest Crisis: Governance, Economy, and EU Accession

This article was produced as part of the Thematic Networks of PULSE, a European initiative that supports transnational journalistic collaborations   The woodlands of Albania are a verdant expanse that once covered nearly half of the country’s rugged and mountainous terrain.  In these past 25 years, however, they have been …