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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 …

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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

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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

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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

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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 …

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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

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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

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President Thaci: Kosovo has fulfilled all visa liberalisation criteria

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci is in Brussels when he met Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. Original post Here

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Kosovo to do more on visa liberalisation, says German Ambassador

German Ambassador to Pristina, Christian Heldt, has congratulated Kosovo leaders after the Parliament has ratified the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro saying that more needs to be done in order for Kosovars to enjoy visa free-regime. Original post Here

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Kosovo minister pledges fulfilling of the last benchmark on visa liberalisation

After Kosovo Parliament ratified on Wednesday the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro, Kosovo now has to fulfil the very last benchmark – fighting organised crime and corruption – in order for Kosovo citizens to enjoy visa free regime in the EU Schengen area. Original post Here

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Albanian Parliament Under Cyberattack Linked to Iran

Tirana Times, March 10, 2026 – A cyberattack targeting Albania’s Parliament has revived one of the country’s most serious national security concerns, underscoring the return of a threat that Albanian institutions have come to associate with Iran linked retaliation. The breach, confirmed by Parliament on Tuesday, involved unauthorized access to …

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Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

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Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

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Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 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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Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

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Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

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Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

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The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

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Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …

News

Albanian Parliament Under Cyberattack Linked to Iran

Tirana Times, March 10, 2026 – A cyberattack targeting Albania’s Parliament has revived one of the country’s most serious national security concerns, underscoring the return of a threat that Albanian institutions have come to associate with Iran linked retaliation. The breach, confirmed by Parliament on Tuesday, involved unauthorized access to …

News

Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

News

Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

News

Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 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

Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

News

Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

News

Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

News

The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

News

Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …