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US Blacklists Kosovo politicians, MPs

A travel ban on dozens of Kosovo citizens, including political leaders and MPs on the United States blacklist, has been extended by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Original post Here

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Guinea Bissau reconfirms recognition of Kosovo’s Independence

The state of Guinea Bissau has reconfirmed recognition of Kosovo’s Independence. The news has been confirmed by Kosovo Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli. Original post Here

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Rakic: Mitrovica bridge will not open today

Mitrovica North Mayor, Goran Rakic, said that there will be no opening of the main bridge of Mitrovica today dividing the town in ethnic-lines in the south inhabited by Albanians and north inhabited by Serbs. Original post Here

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This is how the first permanent border crossing Kosovo-Serbia will look like

Border crossing point of Merdare that links Kosovo with Serbia will look completely different than some time ago. Original post Here

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EP Rapporteur: Kosovo is off the train to visas, 2019 more complicated

Igor Soltes, the EU Parliament Rapporteur on Kosovo, reminded to Kosovo politicians the time when Kosovo citizens were close to traveling without visas. He says that the advice of his predecessor, Ulrike Lunacek, was not heard when she called on Kosovo authorities to ratify the Agreement on border demarcation with …

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Hoxhaj: Kosovo should apply for the Council of Europe membership in 2018

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, reporting on Tuesday at the Assembly’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, said that Kosovo should submit its Council of Europe (CoE) bid in 2018, noting that full membership of Kosovo will take two to three years. Original post Here

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Pristina restricts cars from 31 January to cut pollution

Kosovo Ministry of Environment and Municipality of Pristina have decided that odd and even number vehicles will be allowed to enter the capital city centre on alternate days as of 31 January, imposing the restrictions as an effort to curb rising pollution. Also Kosovo parliament is set to hold an …

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Government insists pay rise is legal after Anti-Corruption body ruled as illegal

Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency has on Monday published an opinion qualifying the decision of the Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to increase salaries of his staff as illegal. According to this opinion the decision is in violation with the Law on preventing of the conflict of interest. Original post Here

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Kosovo PM’s pay rise decision challenged at the Constitutional Court

The Vetevendosje MP, Albulena Haxhiu, announced on Monday that she addressed the Constitutional Court challenging the prime minister’s decision to increase salaries of his cabinet. Haxhiu claims PM Ramush Haradinaj’s decision is unconstitutional. Original post Here

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MP Ilir Deda says demarcation with Montenegro cannot be negotiated

Member of Parliament representing Alternativa, Ilir Deda, said that current version of the Agreement on border demarcation between Kosovo and Montenegro cannot be renegotiated. He said that the only solution is reaching a consensus and ratification by the Parliament of Kosovo. Original post Here

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Albania’s Anti-Corruption “Success”: A Manufactured Illusion

By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …

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Week in Review: Surprises and Standoffs

As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here

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How Albanians in America Lobbied for Freedom Back Home

Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here

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Rebuilt Housing Estate for Albanian Quake Survivors Hosts Just One Family

The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here

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Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

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The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

News
Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

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Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

News
Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News
Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here

News

Albania’s Anti-Corruption “Success”: A Manufactured Illusion

By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …

News

Week in Review: Surprises and Standoffs

As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here

News

How Albanians in America Lobbied for Freedom Back Home

Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here

News

Rebuilt Housing Estate for Albanian Quake Survivors Hosts Just One Family

The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here

News

Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

News

The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

News

Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

News

Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

News

Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News

Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here