Kosovo EU Minister convinced visas will be removed this year
Delivering tangible results in fight against organised crime and corruption will be serious challenge for Kosovo rule of law institutions in order to fulfil the last remaining criteria on visa liberalisation with the EU. Original post Here
Accused Kosovo politician put under house detention
Former General Commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Azem Syla, has been ordered one month house detention, a few weeks after he was released from detention on remand. Original post Here
EU asks Kosovo to urgently establish Association of Serb Municipalities
Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, met on Friday 23 March with Presidents Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia and HashimThaci of Kosovo. Original post Here
Kosovo to remove Serbia’s dialing code +381 as of 24 March
As of 24 March only the +383 international dialling code will be valid in Kosovo which was allocated to the youngest country in Europe by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 15 December 2016. The Telecom of Kosovo will remove from use existing dialling codes of Serbia (+381) and Slovenia …
Serbia-Kosovo Handball Match cancelled because of security concerns
The Government of Serbia has decided to cancel today’s match of the women’s junior handball game between Kosovo and Serbia because of security concerns. This was the first time a Kosovo National Team has travelled to Serbia to play an official game. Original post Here
Hahn after meeting Thaci: Fighting organised crime fastest way to visa liberalisation
EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said after meeting Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in Brussels that fighting organised crime is the best and fastest way to visa liberalisation for Kosovo. Original post Here
Kosovo, Serbia Presidents to meet today in Brussels
The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, will host today a meeting with Presidents Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia and Hashim Thaci of Kosovo. The high level meeting comes after Pristina-Belgrade technical talks held from 19-21 March that according to the EU officials no progress was achieved. Original post Here
Specialist Prosecutor reflects on experience and challenges at SPO in valedictory talk
In a wide-ranging final public talk as Specialist Prosecutor, David Schwendiman discussed the origins of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO), the challenges he had faced as Specialist Prosecutor and the challenges that the organisation will face in the years to come, as well as what makes the investigation he has …
Kosovo made progress in consolidating rule of law, says PM Haradinaj
Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj says Kosovo has progressed in consolidating rule of law. He made the comments after meeting the Head of the EU Office in Kosovo Natliya Apostolova and the US Ambassador Greg Delawie to discuss rule of law situation in Kosovo. Original post Here
Kosovo Imam acquitted of inciting of terrorism
Kosovo imam Shefqet Krasniqi has been acquitted on Friday of charges that he had encouraged Kosovars to join radical Islamic groups in Syria and Iraq. Original post Here
Forty-one environmental organisations from 28 countries have called for a halt to the planned development by Jared Kushner of Albania’s Sazan island as a luxury resort, saying it threatens the valuable biodiversity of the area. Original post Here
Kosovo, Bulgaria and Turkey have signed the Board of Peace Charter, under Donald Trump’s auspices, but several other Balkan countries are still pondering whether to join the initiative. Original post Here
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. Original post Here
The Bulgarian mystic’s doomy predictions continue to grab headlines in Albania and elsewhere – even though many seem fabricated and sometimes appear to serve Russian geopolitical narratives. Original post Here
Tirana, 21.01.2026 – Research on disability has increasingly moved into the centre of international scientific and policy discussions, reflecting broader debates about inclusion, quality of life and access to public space. Against this wider backdrop, the King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR) has opened nominations for the 4th cycle of …
While Albania’s Edi Rama welcomed an invitation to join Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania and Greece merely confirmed that they had received invitations. Original post Here
When the “Choo Choo” Train Never Came It begins with a scene that now feels almost surreal. In 2022, during a staged media event in Tirana, Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku enthusiastically explained to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the Tirana–Durrës–Rinas railway would be completed by 2024. …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
The United States has once again issued an unusually clear and public warning about the threat posed by Albanian organized crime groups and their links to Latin American drug cartels, framing the issue not only as a criminal challenge but as a direct risk to Albania’s national security and economic …
As the new year gets off to a cold start in the region, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories takes a look at the high expectations and sobering realities of what 2026 holds in store. Original post Here