Albanian President: The EU to lift visas for Kosovo, open negotiations with Albania
Albanian President Ilir Meta has received on Monday the European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker who is accompanied by the Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn. The EU senior officials are visiting Tirana as part of their Western Balkans tour. Original post Here
Serbia to invest €200 million for Nis-Merdare motorway
Serbia’s minister of Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlovic, said that by the end of 2018 the Government will launch a tender and pick a contractor for the construction of a motorway linking Serbia with Kosovo. Original post Here
Juncker in Tirana: Not here with an accession date
The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker has arrived in Tirana on Sunday afternoon as part of the Western Balkans tour when he met the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. Original post Here
Kosovo presents half a billion Euro projects at the Western Balkans Investment Summit
Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, has arrived in London, attending the Western Balkans Investment Summit, organised by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Original post Here
Kosovo Consulate in France attacked, state flag removed
Kosovo’s Consulate in Strasbourg of France has been attacked over the weekend, when unknown people have removed the flag of Kosovo and damaged its coat of arms. The Government of Kosovo has condemned the attack. Original post Here
Pacolli says demarcation will be ratified by mid-March
Kosovo’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, says ratification of the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro opens the way for Kosovo to get visa liberalisation. He said that it is very likley for Kosovo Assembly to vote its ratification by mid-March and not next Wednesday when MPs will convene …
Thaci: Serbia cannot join the EU without recognising Kosovo
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci during an interview with the regional TV N1 said that he expects at the end of the dialogue with Serbia, Kosovo becomes member of the United Nations. He also said that a final agreement on normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia might be reached by …
Juncker kicks off Balkan tour with visit to Macedonia, Albania
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has started his Western Balkans tour by visiting Macedonia and Albania on Sunday in a bid to expand the European Union and explain to the region leaders the EU strategy on Western Balkans which was published at the beginning of this month. Original post Here
Technical dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia resumes on Monday
The technical dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade resumes in Brussels, on 26 February, after it was suspended last month by Serbian delegation. Original post Here
Kosovo war crimes court to issue first indictments in March
Gazeta Express has learned that the outgoing Special Prosecutor, David Schwendiman, who will be leaving the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office on 31 March 2018 – was requested to sign an indictment and the first arrests of the war crime suspects by the Special Court are expected next month. Some of Kosovo’s …
Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …
Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here
Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and other turbulent issues across the region. Original post Here
The city of Durres on Albania’s Adriatic coast boasts a fine selection of Roman-era mosaics. But due to a lack of initiative by the local authorities, progress has been slow to preserve them and make them available for the public to view. Original post Here
As Mediterranean fire seasons grow in intensity, Albania’s government faces calls to invest in firefighting and reforestation. Original post Here
Interview with Migen Qiraxhi, Project Manager at Qëndresa Qytetare, July 17 In Albania, where higher education is often portrayed as a bridge to opportunity and European integration, the reality on the ground tells a darker story. Behind university gates, corruption, nepotism, and political interference have quietly hollowed out institutions that …
Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and a whole lot more. Original post Here
From data leaks and criminal hacks to smear campaigns, BIRN’s digital rights monitoring team documented widespread privacy violations and assaults on freedom of speech across Southeast Europe in July. Original post Here
As fires rage at overflowing and often illegal landfills in Albania, companies with criminal connections keep securing waste management contracts with the state. Original post Here
Across the region, our selection of this week’s Balkan Insight Premium stories suggests that alarm bells are going off in many countries – and not only because of the wildfires. Original post Here