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Thaci speak by phone with Stoltenberg: Kosovo Army in coordination with allies

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci spoke today by phone on Tuesday with the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into army. Original post Here

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Thaci speak by phone with Stoltenberg: Kosovo Army in coordination with allies

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci spoke today by phone on Tuesday with the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into army. Original post Here

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Kosovo president Thaci: Eagle gesture is not a symbol that killed people

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci on Monday defended two Swiss footballers of Kosovo Albanian heritage who celebrated World Cup goals against Serbia with a two-headed eagle gesture reflecting their ethnic roots. Original post Here

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Kosovo president Thaci: Eagle gesture is not a symbol that killed people

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci on Monday defended two Swiss footballers of Kosovo Albanian heritage who celebrated World Cup goals against Serbia with a two-headed eagle gesture reflecting their ethnic roots. Original post Here

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US Ambassador: Politics have no place in the Constitution

US Ambassador to Pristina, Greg Delawie, has criticised Kosovo institutions, for as he said, delays in election of the three Constitutional Court judges. Original post Here

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US Ambassador: Politics have no place in the Constitution

US Ambassador to Pristina, Greg Delawie, has criticised Kosovo institutions, for as he said, delays in election of the three Constitutional Court judges. Original post Here

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Kosovo President to report in Parliament on dialogue with Serbia

The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) asked the President Hashim Thaci to address the Parliament informing MPs on the content of talks with Serbia and on further steps which he agreed during Sunday’s meeting with his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic in the meeting hosted by the EU foreign policy chief, Federica …

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Kosovo President to report in Parliament on dialogue with Serbia

The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) asked the President Hashim Thaci to address the Parliament informing MPs on the content of talks with Serbia and on further steps which he agreed during Sunday’s meeting with his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic in the meeting hosted by the EU foreign policy chief, Federica …

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No game bans for Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri for celebrations in Switzerland’s win against Serbia

The Swiss players of Kosovo origin, Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri have been spared two games ban by the FIFA for their celebrations in Switzerland’s 2-1 win over Serbia on Friday evening. The two Kosovo Albanian players who celebrated their goals by referencing Albania’s symbolic double-headed eagle with their hands …

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No game bans for Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri for celebrations in Switzerland’s win against Serbia

The Swiss players of Kosovo origin, Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri have been spared two games ban by the FIFA for their celebrations in Switzerland’s 2-1 win over Serbia on Friday evening. The two Kosovo Albanian players who celebrated their goals by referencing Albania’s symbolic double-headed eagle with their hands …

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Rule of Law or Rule by Law? Albania’s EU Path Faces a Crisis of Credibility

Jerina Zaloshnja As Albania accelerates the formal process of European Union accession—opening negotiation chapters at a pace that seems to outstrip democratic reforms—it faces an urgent and unavoidable truth: a country cannot genuinely integrate into the EU without first building a functioning rule-of-law society. No volume of technical chapters opened …

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Balkan Countries ‘Failing to Enforce Freedom of Information Laws’: Report

Freedom of Information laws in the six Western Balkan countries may look robust, but public institutions all too often find ways to obstruct transparency, a new BIRN report has found. Original post Here

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: June 30, 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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Leaving Albania, the Country’s Youth Seek a More Stable Future

An inability to plan for the future is driving many young, educated Albanians to leave their homeland; experts say the government will have to address the trend sooner or later. Original post Here

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Week in Review: Boom and Bust

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

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Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

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

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BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

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

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Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

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

News
NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

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 …

News
Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

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

News

Rule of Law or Rule by Law? Albania’s EU Path Faces a Crisis of Credibility

Jerina Zaloshnja As Albania accelerates the formal process of European Union accession—opening negotiation chapters at a pace that seems to outstrip democratic reforms—it faces an urgent and unavoidable truth: a country cannot genuinely integrate into the EU without first building a functioning rule-of-law society. No volume of technical chapters opened …

News

Balkan Countries ‘Failing to Enforce Freedom of Information Laws’: Report

Freedom of Information laws in the six Western Balkan countries may look robust, but public institutions all too often find ways to obstruct transparency, a new BIRN report has found. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: June 30, 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

Leaving Albania, the Country’s Youth Seek a More Stable Future

An inability to plan for the future is driving many young, educated Albanians to leave their homeland; experts say the government will have to address the trend sooner or later. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Boom and Bust

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

News

Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

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

News

BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

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

News

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

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

News

NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

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 …

News

Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

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