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Kosovo’s PM urges Mitrovica mayor to refrain from giving statements on opening of the bridge

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj called on Mitrovica South Mayor, Agim Bahtiri, to refrain from giving statements on opening of the main bridge of Mitrovica dividing the city in ethnic lines. Bahtiri said on Tuesday that the revitalised bridge will reopen soon with a performance of a US singer. Original …

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Kosovo’s FM: Revocation of recognition by Lesotho fake news spread by Belgrade

Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry refuted Serb media reports that Lesotho has revoked the recognition of Kosovo calling the allegations as fake news spread by officials in Belgrade. Original post Here

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Mitrovica Mayor announces massive concert to open the bridge diving the city in ethnic lines

Mayor of the Mitrovica South Agim Bahtiri says the main bridge which symbolically and physically separates Albanians in the south and Serbs in the north will open soon. He promises the opening ceremony of the reconstructed bridge with the European Union money will be done with a concert of world’s …

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Kosovo’s Thaci on correction of Border: I withdraw if better solution is proposed

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in an interview with T7 said his proposal on “correction of border” between Kosovo and Serbia is “constitutional, legal and indisputable.” The proposal is being strongly opposed by the opposition parties. Original post Here

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Ekrem Mustafa is officially minister of Internal Affairs

Ekrem Mustafa has been appointed Minister of Internal Affairs. The decision was taken by Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, a day after former minister Bejtush Gashi was dismissed at the proposal of his party, the AKR. Original post Here

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Kosovo opposition wants election first, dialogue with Serbia later

Chief of parliamentary group of the opposition party, LDK, Avdullah Hoti, in a Facebook post said they want early election first and continue the dialogue with Serbia later. Hoti says it is impossible to work on normalisation of relations with Serbia and have abnormal institutional relations within Kosovo. Original post …

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Kosovo junior coalition party replaces Minister of Interior

Behgjet Pacolli’s party Alliance New Kosova (AKR), the junior party in the ruling coalition, in unexpected move on Monday has decided to replace minister of Integral Affairs, Bejtush Gashi, only five months after his appointment. The AKR proposed Ekrem Mustafa as new minister of Interior who has to be confirmed …

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Specialist Prosecution Office asks Basic Courts in Kosovo transfer of war crime files

The Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecution Office set up to prosecute alleged war crimes committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during 1998-2000 has asked basic courts to hand over some of the war crime files dealt by Kosovo judiciary, T7 has learned. Original post Here

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Kosovo Army to be created this year, says Speaker of Parliament

Kosovo Parliament Speaker, Kadri Veseli, after meeting chiefs of parliamentary groups on Monday morning said the Army of Kosovo will be created this year. The Parliament’s Presidency proceeded this morning to plenary session a package of laws enabling transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into Army of Kosovo. Procedures …

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Parliament’s Presidency to decide today on Kosovo Army

Today, the Parliament’s Presidency is expected to proceed to plenary session a package of laws enabling transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into Army of Kosovo. Procedures for final adoption of this legislation package are expected to be concluded by the end of November. Original post Here

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Port-to-Port: How Albanians Conquered the European Cocaine Market

BIRN reporters trace the rise of Albanian crime gangs to the top of the European cocaine trafficking ladder, from remote parts of Paraguay to European Union ports. Original post Here

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Albania in 2026: Battles With Anti-Graft Prosecutors Risk Slowing EU Progress

Political polarisation and government pressure on the judiciary – sparked by investigations of top politicians – could hinder Albania’s rapid progress towards European Union membership. Original post Here

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Heavy Rains Cause Evacuations and Discontent in Albania

Dramatic situation reported in several towns, while some locals complain of being abandoned. Original post Here

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Albania Under Water: A Return to a Hobbesian State of Nature

TIRANA TIMES, December 6, 2025 – Albania is once again under water. Torrential rains over the past days have triggered massive flooding across almost the entire country, exposing not only the fragility of urban infrastructure but, more fundamentally, the long-term failure of governance. From the northern plains to the southern …

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Europe Tightens the Fight Against Corruption, Albania at a Crossroad

By Zef Preçi, Executive Director of ACER As Albania presents itself as closer than ever to the European Union, a troubling contradiction has emerged in its domestic legal and political debate. While the EU is moving decisively toward tougher and more harmonized criminal rules against corruption, Albania is simultaneously discussing …

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Housing Boom Prices Out Albanians

Allegations of money laundering in construction and claims of informal power networks, including the case of Ergys Agasi, fuel concerns over a distorted housing market Tirana Times, TIRANA, 05 January 2026 – For many middle income families in Tirana, buying an apartment has shifted from a realistic life goal to …

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In Albania, Women Often Quit Local Councils to Make Way for Men

Democracy and the rights of women are being undermined in Albania by the practice of filling electoral candidate lists with women, only to have them resign en masse once the results are in and cede their seats to men. Original post Here

News
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 5, 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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Balkan States Give Divided Reactions to US Strike on Venezuela

Albania and Kosovo applauded the Trump administration’s military operation against Venezuela’s regime and the ousting of Nicolas Maduro, while other states in the region initially remained silent or called for calm and restraint. Original post Here

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Roaming Like at Home and the Western Balkans

By Genc Pollo Tirana, 02 January 2026 – Today’s decision by the European Union to grant “roaming like at home” to Ukraine and Moldova deserves praise. It is a practical citizen-centered step that immediately lowers costs improves connectivity and makes Europe tangible in everyday life. Yet the non inclusion of …

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Port-to-Port: How Albanians Conquered the European Cocaine Market

BIRN reporters trace the rise of Albanian crime gangs to the top of the European cocaine trafficking ladder, from remote parts of Paraguay to European Union ports. Original post Here

News

Albania in 2026: Battles With Anti-Graft Prosecutors Risk Slowing EU Progress

Political polarisation and government pressure on the judiciary – sparked by investigations of top politicians – could hinder Albania’s rapid progress towards European Union membership. Original post Here

News

Heavy Rains Cause Evacuations and Discontent in Albania

Dramatic situation reported in several towns, while some locals complain of being abandoned. Original post Here

News

Albania Under Water: A Return to a Hobbesian State of Nature

TIRANA TIMES, December 6, 2025 – Albania is once again under water. Torrential rains over the past days have triggered massive flooding across almost the entire country, exposing not only the fragility of urban infrastructure but, more fundamentally, the long-term failure of governance. From the northern plains to the southern …

News

Europe Tightens the Fight Against Corruption, Albania at a Crossroad

By Zef Preçi, Executive Director of ACER As Albania presents itself as closer than ever to the European Union, a troubling contradiction has emerged in its domestic legal and political debate. While the EU is moving decisively toward tougher and more harmonized criminal rules against corruption, Albania is simultaneously discussing …

News

Housing Boom Prices Out Albanians

Allegations of money laundering in construction and claims of informal power networks, including the case of Ergys Agasi, fuel concerns over a distorted housing market Tirana Times, TIRANA, 05 January 2026 – For many middle income families in Tirana, buying an apartment has shifted from a realistic life goal to …

News

In Albania, Women Often Quit Local Councils to Make Way for Men

Democracy and the rights of women are being undermined in Albania by the practice of filling electoral candidate lists with women, only to have them resign en masse once the results are in and cede their seats to men. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 5, 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

Balkan States Give Divided Reactions to US Strike on Venezuela

Albania and Kosovo applauded the Trump administration’s military operation against Venezuela’s regime and the ousting of Nicolas Maduro, while other states in the region initially remained silent or called for calm and restraint. Original post Here

News

Roaming Like at Home and the Western Balkans

By Genc Pollo Tirana, 02 January 2026 – Today’s decision by the European Union to grant “roaming like at home” to Ukraine and Moldova deserves praise. It is a practical citizen-centered step that immediately lowers costs improves connectivity and makes Europe tangible in everyday life. Yet the non inclusion of …