Kosovo wants the Association of Serb Municipalities without executive powers
Kosovo chief negotiator in technical talks with Serbia, Avni Arifi, met on Monday in Brussels senior EU officials who facilitate the dialogue with Serbia, headed by Thomas Busch. During the meeting Kosovo delegation presented the results of the dialogue and reiterated that the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities will be established …
Pacolli asks Israel to recognise Kosovo’s Independence
Kosovo Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, received Monday Israeli Ambassador, Alona Fisher Kamm when they discussed on bilateral relations between the two nations and enhancing further cooperation. Original post Here
European Commission to decide on visas for Kosovo on 28 June
The European Commission is expected to decide on 28 June whether Kosovo has fulfilled all the visa liberalisation benchmarks, and based on the EC report, the EU institutions will decide whether or not Kosovo deserves visa free regime in the EU Schengen area. This has been confirmed to Gazeta Express, …
Kosovo Parliament Speaker asks France’s support on visa liberalisation
Kosovo Parliament Speaker, Kadri Veseli, has travelled to Paris, as part of his tour in the EU member countries lobbying to get support for the visa liberalisation for Kosovo. Veseli who last week visited Austria, is accompanied by a group of ruling and opposition MPs during his lobbying tour. Original …
No date on resumption of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, says Collaku
Bekim Collaku, chief of cabinet of the Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, said that he expects the final phase of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will start soon, but no date has been set yet. Original post Here
Kosovo’s Interpol membership bid included in the agenda
Kosovo’s bid for membership into International Criminal Police Organisation – Interpol has been included in their agenda. This has been confirmed by Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli. Original post Here
British Ambassador says return of Xhabir Zharku as a free man is shameful
British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, says the return of former Kacanik mayor, Xhabir Zharku as a free man to Kosovo, is shameful. Zharku was sentenced to three years in prison for extortion and the illegal possession of weapon, but he escaped from Kosovo evading justice. Original post Here
Once most wanted fugitive returns in Kosovo to help ‘develop the country’
Former mayor of Kacanik, Xhabir Zharku, who was sentenced in 2011 to three years in prison for extortion and the illegal possession of weapon, has returned home last week as free man after six years on the run. Upon his return to his hometown after the statute of limitations has …
Kosovo Parliament Speaker Veseli meets EP Rapporteur on Visas, Tanja Fajon
Kosovo Parliament Speaker, Kadri Veseli, met on Wednesday in Strasbourg, Tanja Fajon, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Kosovo on the process of visa liberalization. Original post Here
Kosovo man charged over attempt to join ISIS in Syria
The Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo has indicted a Kosovo Albanian man on terrorism charges, who allegedly wanted to join ISIS in Syria but was caught in Turkey and sent back to Kosovo. Original post Here
Tirana Times, March 26 , 2026 – The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) has awarded its prestigious annual “Jorgji Qirjako” Translation Prize for 2025 to historian and translator Ilir Ikonomi, recognizing his outstanding contribution to bringing major works of international scholarship to the Albanian audience. Ilir Ikonomi received the award …
From a political spying scandal to MAGA alignment and a brewing collision with the law, selection of BIRN Premium stories this week makes for an exciting read. Original post Here
The now-notorious hacker group Homeland Justice claimed that it had breached the computer defences of Albania’s postal service following its attack on parliament’s systems earlier this month. Original post Here
Charged with corruption, money laundering and concealment of wealth, ex-politician Monika Kryemadhi is rebranding herself as a showbiz celebrity on the Big Brother reality show, but can it keep her out of prison? Original post Here
An appeals court upheld the verdict jailing the former Socialist Party mayor of Himara, Jorgo Goro, who was at the centre of a political storm during a controversial election in 2023. Original post Here
The prime minister’s moves to shield his deputy from arrest feel like the beginning of the end of an era for Albanians’ hopes that the powerful would finally be held accountable. Original post Here
V Dem places Albania in a category dominated by African states, with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina the only Western Balkan countries in the same group. Tirana Times, March 23, 2026 – Albania has been placed in the category of electoral autocracy in the latest Democracy Report 2026 by the …
As oil and gas prices surge amid the Iran war, Balkan countries are pondering ways to reduce the impact on households and businesses. Original post Here
The controversy over Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has put the spotlight on prosecution efforts to target high-level corruption – but she is only the latest senior politician to face charges. 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