EU’s Apostolova urges Kosovo Parliament not to allow import of old cars
Head of EU Office in Kosovo, Ambassador Nataliya Apostolova, reiterated on Friday her call for the Assembly not to increase the maximal age of imported cars to Kosovo. Original post Here
No withdrawal of recognition from Dominica, says Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry
Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that the Commonwealth of Dominica, an Island country in the West Indies, has not withdrawn recognition of Kosovo. Original post Here
German convicted drug dealer arrested in Kosovo
German citizen, Qadir Ali Kan, a convicted drug dealer, who was on the red notice of Interpol, has been arrested on Friday in Kosovo’s capital, Pristina. The German citizen was convicted to twenty years imprisonment found guilty of drug trafficking, Gazeta Express reports. Original post Here
Creation of Kosovo Army irreversible, says Speaker Veseli
Kosovo Parliament Speaker, Kadri Veseli, in an interview with the Zagreb-based daily Vecernje List said that future Army of Kosovo will have five thousand active soldiers and three thousand reserves and will be established in close cooperation with friends and NATO. Original post Here
Confidential Letter Reveals Secret Talks On Partition Of Kosovo
Former EU facilitator of Kosovo-Serbia technical dialogue in 2011-12, Robert Cooper, who was one of the speakers at the Belgrade Security Forum (BSF) held on 17-18 October, in his capacity as ECFR Council Member, wrote a “private and confidential” letter based on his study trip to Serbia’s capital. At the …
Kosovo Parliament fails to pass resolution banning President negotiate border with Serbia
The Parliament of Kosovo failed on Thursday to vote a resolution banning country’s President Hashim Thaci to discuss ‘correction of border’ with Serbia. The opposition-sponsored resolution was not supported by ruling coalition MPs in a vote held after two a heated debate in Parliament on who should be leading the …
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
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
The United States has once again issued an unusually clear and public warning about the threat posed by Albanian organized crime groups and their links to Latin American drug cartels, framing the issue not only as a criminal challenge but as a direct risk to Albania’s national security and economic …
As the new year gets off to a cold start in the region, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories takes a look at the high expectations and sobering realities of what 2026 holds in store. Original post Here
Critics warn of deepening inequality, impunity and potential money-laundering exposure. Tirana Times, January 16,2025 – Albania’s newly adopted “fiscal peace” package framed by the government as a reset of relations between businesses and the tax authorities, has sparked sharp criticism from economists, business associations, the opposition and international observers. Although …
Opinion articles under the pseudonym ‘Endri Kajsiu’ have for years promoted pro-government narratives in the Albanian media – leading some to wonder if the author could even be the prime minister. Original post Here
Tirana Times, January 15, 2026 – Albania’s banking sector enters 2026 with growing caution, as banks operating in the country anticipate an increase in non performing loans despite strong demand for credit. According to the latest CESEE Banking Lending Survey conducted by the European Investment Bank for the second half …
After the US paused visa processing for 75 countries, including Albania, the opposition in Tirana has accused the government of getting the country put on Trump’s “blacklist”. 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 …