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Kosovo to reconsider dialogue with Serbia, if visas are not lifted

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and his deputy Enver Hoxhaj say that Kosovo will reconsider participation in the EU-facilitated dialogue with Serbia if the EU Council in its Decemebr meeting does not include in its agenda the visa liberalisation for Kosovo. Original post Here

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Kosovo, Serbia presidents meeting in Brussels ends without results

The meeting of presidents of Kosovo and Serbia under the EU facilitation held on Thursday evening in Brussels ended without results. Original post Here

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Croatia ready to help Kosovo Army

Croatian Minister of Defence, Damir Krsticevic, has received today Minister of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Rrustem Berisha, when they discussed establishment of the Kosovo Army, Gazeta Express reports. Original post Here

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Kosovo Parliament removes from the agenda a resolution on dialogue with Serbia

Members of Parliament of the opposition parties have walked out of plenary session of Parliament on Wednesday after it was decided to remove from the agenda voting of a draft resolution on dialogue with Serbia. Original post Here

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Now we are told visa liberalisation is a political issue, says Kosovo Speaker of Parliament

Kosovo Parliament Speaker, Kadri Veseli, said that he expects Austria which currently hold EU’s presidency, to proceed to the EU Council the visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens. Original post Here

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Kosovo Customs confirms implementation of tariffs on Serbia’s goods

The Kosovo Customs have confirmed that they have already started implementing the Government’s decision to impose a customs tariff of ten per cent on products made in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Original post Here

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Presidents of Kosovo, Serbia to meet on Thursday in Brussels

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci is expected to meet his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday in Brussels. This was confirmed by the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini’s office. Original post Here

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Kosovo Government puts 10-percent tariff on imports from Serbia

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on Tuesday that Kosovo would impose tariffs of 10 per cent for goods coming from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s opposition asks urgent session of Parliament to discuss recognitions

Avdullah Hoti, chief of Parliamentary Group of the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, said that this opposition party supported also by Vetevendosje have submitted to the Parliament request on holding an urgent session of Parliament to discuss stagnation of Foreign Ministry to bring new recognitions for the country which declared …

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Cold meeting of Austrian Chancellor with Kosovo’s PM – no mentioning of land swap

Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has not mentioned the land swap idea following a meeting with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj who is openly criticising the proposal. Kurz who is visiting Kosovo today, in a joint press conference with President Hashim Thaci, said that Austria will accept exchange of territory and …

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Balkans Seeing ‘Serious Stagnation’ in Tackling Corruption: Transparency International

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

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BIRN Reality Check: With Its Mayor Behind Bars, Stasis Grips Albania’s Capital

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

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EU Presses Parliament Over Deputy PM Immunity

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 …

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Is A Storm Gathering Over Justice in Albania?

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 …

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 9, 2026

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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How “Diella” Was Used by the Russian Pravda Network to Spread Disinformation

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 …

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The Kurum Case and the Collapse of Environmental Oversight in Albania

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 …

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Russian Propaganda in North Macedonia

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 …

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Deputy Prime Minister Resuspended By Court Ruling

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 …

News
Week in Review: Saviours, Crypto Fugitives and Unlikely Friendships

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

News

Balkans Seeing ‘Serious Stagnation’ in Tackling Corruption: Transparency International

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

News

BIRN Reality Check: With Its Mayor Behind Bars, Stasis Grips Albania’s Capital

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

News

EU Presses Parliament Over Deputy PM Immunity

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 …

News

Is A Storm Gathering Over Justice in Albania?

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 …

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 9, 2026

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

How “Diella” Was Used by the Russian Pravda Network to Spread Disinformation

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 …

News

The Kurum Case and the Collapse of Environmental Oversight in Albania

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 …

News

Russian Propaganda in North Macedonia

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 …

News

Deputy Prime Minister Resuspended By Court Ruling

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 …

News

Week in Review: Saviours, Crypto Fugitives and Unlikely Friendships

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