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Shwendiman assures his departure will not delay indictments

The Specialist Prosecutor David Schwendiman announced his imminent departure from office, effective 31 March 2018, fueling speculations that filing of the indictments by the Specialist Prosecution Office might be delayed. But in a statement to Gazeta Express Schwendiman assures that the work of this institution will continue and he left …

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EULEX transfers Azem Syla’s case to Kosovo judges

The EULEX has decided on Tuesday that their judges withdraw from the panel of one of the high profile cases in Kosovo, involving former General Commander of the KLA and former MP, Azem Sla, and leave the trial to the local judges. The case was being tried by a mixed …

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Kosovo Parliament to vote new Draft Law on demarcation with Montenegro on Thursday

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj says a new Draft Law on border demarcation with Montenegro, which includes the report of a State Commission on demarcation, and the Agreement of presidents of Kosovo and Montenegro, has been proceeded to Parliament for ratification. Original post Here

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Rama: Albania-Kosovo Joint President Statement ‘Only Imagination’

Albanian President, Edi Rama, says his statement on a joint president for Albania and Kosovo, made in Pristina on 17 February, was taken out of context, and what stated on the day Kosovo was celebrating its tenth anniversary of Independence, was ‘only his imagination.’ Original post Here

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Haradinaj wants Parliament vote demarcation on Thursday

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said he will ask the Parliament to convene on Thursday in an extraordinary session and vote the ratification of the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro. Haradinaj made the comments during second meeting of the Government on Tuesday. Original post Here

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Kosovo President Thaci meets Quint ambassadors to discuss demarcation

While two government meetings have been scheduled to find a solution to the demarcation agreement with Montenegro, the President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, is not comfortable. Sources told Gazeta Express that Thaci is holding a meeting with Quint ambassadors on the demarcation agreement. Original post Here

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Kosovo wants new draft Agreement on Association of Serb-majority Municipalities

Head of Kosovo’s delegation in technical talks with Serbia, Avni Arifi, told the daily Zeri that in the next meeting set to be held in Brussels next week they will discuss with the Belgrade’s team on Association of Serb-majority Municipalities. According to him, the Association should be established based on …

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Hoxha: Visa liberalisation in 2018 if demarcation is ratified this week

Kosovo minister of European integration, Dhurata Hoxha, said that it is very likely for the Parliament of Kosovo to ratify the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro next week. She said that this would make Kosovo reach the deadlines for granting visa free regime within 2018. Original post Here

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Kosovo Government to Send New Draft Law on Demarcation to Parliament

Kosovo Government will hold two meetings on Tuesday. In the first meeting set to be held at 10:00 The Government will ask withdrawal of the Draft Law on ratification of the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro from the Parliament. Later at 16:00 the cabinet will convene again to proceed …

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PM Haradinaj after meeting Senator Ron Johnson: US support very important to Kosovo

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has received on Monday the U.S. Senator, Ron Johnson, who is paying an official visit to Kosovo. PM Haradinaj said that the U.S . support for Kosovo is very important. Original post Here

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Actress Sues Albanian Govt for Using Her Image for AI ‘Minister’

Actress Anila Bisha told BIRN that her image was used as the face of Albania’s AI-generated public procurements ‘minister’ without proper permission. Original post Here

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Albania’s AI Facade Cracks While Neighbors Win EU Funds

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Serbia and North Macedonia have secured concrete European Union funding to integrate into Europe’s emerging artificial intelligence infrastructure, while Albania—despite high-profile political messaging around AI—has been left outside the first wave of financed projects. According to the latest map and project list published by …

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Behind Albania’s Collapsing Roads: Clientelism and Corruption

Tirana Times, February 12 2026 – The rapid deterioration of newly inaugurated roads and tunnels across Albania has exposed far more than technical shortcomings. What authorities have sought to explain as weather-related damage is increasingly understood as a symptom of deeper governance failures rooted in clientelism, weak oversight, and systemic …

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Solar Energy Revolution Comes at a Cost in Rural Albania

Photovoltaic parks are multiplying across Albania as the country aims for ‘energy sovereignty’ – but locals say losing agricultural land to solar panels is a blow to their livelihoods. Original post Here

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Albania’s TikTok Ban Expires, But Promised Protections Still Pending

As a one-year ban ends, Albanian authorities say they are still working with TikTok on ‘relevant filters’ to better protect young users of the video-sharing app. Original post Here

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Letter From Brussels: The Epstein Effect Hits Europe

In her latest monthly dispatch from Brussels, Gjeraqina Tuhina looks at the ripple-effects of the Jeffrey Epstein saga, while Serbia falls behind on the long march to EU accession. Original post Here

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Opposition Takes to the Streets as Corruption Scandal Reaches the Heart of Power

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Thousands of Albanians filled the streets of Tirana on Tuesday evening in a national protest called by the opposition Democratic Party, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, the dismissal of his government, and the establishment of a technical cabinet to lead the …

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Balkans Seeing ‘Serious Stagnation’ in Tackling Corruption: Transparency International

As Transparency International releases its latest corruption perception index, the watchdog’s Lidija Prokic tells BIRN that anti-graft drives have faltered across the Western Balkans – in Serbia especially. Original post Here

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BIRN Reality Check: With Its Mayor Behind Bars, Stasis Grips Albania’s Capital

Awaiting trial on graft charges, Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj has fought hard to maintain his position after the Albanian government tried to dismiss him – but how is the city being governed while he’s in a cell? Original post Here

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EU Presses Parliament Over Deputy PM Immunity

Albania’s choice now will signal whether it is converging with that standard or drifting toward a system where, as Orwell warned, all are equal, but some remain more equal than others. Tirana Times, 09 February 2026 – The European Union has publicly urged the Albanian Parliament to address without delay …

News

Actress Sues Albanian Govt for Using Her Image for AI ‘Minister’

Actress Anila Bisha told BIRN that her image was used as the face of Albania’s AI-generated public procurements ‘minister’ without proper permission. Original post Here

News

Albania’s AI Facade Cracks While Neighbors Win EU Funds

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Serbia and North Macedonia have secured concrete European Union funding to integrate into Europe’s emerging artificial intelligence infrastructure, while Albania—despite high-profile political messaging around AI—has been left outside the first wave of financed projects. According to the latest map and project list published by …

News

Behind Albania’s Collapsing Roads: Clientelism and Corruption

Tirana Times, February 12 2026 – The rapid deterioration of newly inaugurated roads and tunnels across Albania has exposed far more than technical shortcomings. What authorities have sought to explain as weather-related damage is increasingly understood as a symptom of deeper governance failures rooted in clientelism, weak oversight, and systemic …

News

Solar Energy Revolution Comes at a Cost in Rural Albania

Photovoltaic parks are multiplying across Albania as the country aims for ‘energy sovereignty’ – but locals say losing agricultural land to solar panels is a blow to their livelihoods. Original post Here

News

Albania’s TikTok Ban Expires, But Promised Protections Still Pending

As a one-year ban ends, Albanian authorities say they are still working with TikTok on ‘relevant filters’ to better protect young users of the video-sharing app. Original post Here

News

Letter From Brussels: The Epstein Effect Hits Europe

In her latest monthly dispatch from Brussels, Gjeraqina Tuhina looks at the ripple-effects of the Jeffrey Epstein saga, while Serbia falls behind on the long march to EU accession. Original post Here

News

Opposition Takes to the Streets as Corruption Scandal Reaches the Heart of Power

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Thousands of Albanians filled the streets of Tirana on Tuesday evening in a national protest called by the opposition Democratic Party, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, the dismissal of his government, and the establishment of a technical cabinet to lead the …

News

Balkans Seeing ‘Serious Stagnation’ in Tackling Corruption: Transparency International

As Transparency International releases its latest corruption perception index, the watchdog’s Lidija Prokic tells BIRN that anti-graft drives have faltered across the Western Balkans – in Serbia especially. Original post Here

News

BIRN Reality Check: With Its Mayor Behind Bars, Stasis Grips Albania’s Capital

Awaiting trial on graft charges, Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj has fought hard to maintain his position after the Albanian government tried to dismiss him – but how is the city being governed while he’s in a cell? Original post Here

News

EU Presses Parliament Over Deputy PM Immunity

Albania’s choice now will signal whether it is converging with that standard or drifting toward a system where, as Orwell warned, all are equal, but some remain more equal than others. Tirana Times, 09 February 2026 – The European Union has publicly urged the Albanian Parliament to address without delay …