President Thaci calls on leaders to engage on granting Kosovo visa-free regime
President Thaci says time has come for Kosovo leadership to act for the interest of the state now that the European Commission is expected to publish its Enlargement Strategy on Western Balkans. The President even called on politicians to leave aside political causes and concentrate on the EU future. President …
Haradinaj: Demarcation with Montenegro cannot be negotiated
Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj says no room is left to discuss the disputable Agreement on border demarcation with his Montenegro counterpart Dusko Markovic, who is expected to visit Pristina on 6 February. Original post Here
Air Pollution: Parliament to hold extraordinary session
The Speaker Kadri Veseli has initiated an extraordinary session of Parliament to address the quality of air in Pristina, Gazeta Express reports. His reaction came after Pristina was ranked as the most polluted city in the world. Original post Here
Kosovo resident receives first IV from US Embassy Pristina
Last week, the United States Embassy in Pristina announced on their Facebook page that they have given their first ever Immigrant Visa (IV) to a Kosovo resident. Original post Here
Albanian opposition to hold a protest on January 27
Albania’s two main political opposition parties, the Democratic Party (PD) and the Socialist Party for Integration (LSI), will hold a protest against the current government on Saturday, January 27. According to Albanian opposition they will protest against poverty, the economic crisis and problems in the judiciary. Original post Here
High Level Rule of Law Summit held in Pristina
Kosovo Prime Minister’s Office organised on Friday the 4th High Level Rule of Law Summit, focusing on the work of Kosovo Customs. Original post Here
Kosovo Assembly votes against dismissal of minister Dardan Gashi
MPs vote against a motion to dismiss deputy prime minister and minister of Diaspora, Dardan Gashi, who in a video leaked recently by media is seen shooting with a gun during a party organised in Fatmir Limaj’s house in Malisheva. Original post Here
EU gave Serbia deadline about Kosovo, 2019 key year
A comprehensive normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, in the form of a legally binding agreement, is “urgent” for the EU. That’s according to a working version of EU enlargement strategy that the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti said it has seen. Original post Here
Rama and Vucic discuss Kosovo-Serbia dialogue
Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, met on Thursday in Davos with his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic. Original post Here
Vucic: If dialogue means recognizing Kosovo – then thanks, bye
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaking in Davos on Thursday said that if somebody thinks the idea of the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina means merely Serbia having to recognize Kosovo, and that’s that – “then – thanks, goodbye.” Original post Here
By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – In early December, a Croatian satirical outlet published a humorous article claiming that Albania’s AI minister had been arrested after allegedly accepting a bribe worth 14 bitcoins. The satire quickly went viral online, but it was subsequently misinterpreted as factual information …
Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Kurum waste file has exposed one of the most serious environmental and governance scandals in Albania in recent years, revealing not only the illegal export of hazardous waste but also the disappearance of tens of thousands of tons of industrial byproducts inside the …
by Agron Vrangalla Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – Moscow systematically uses information manipulation as an instrument of foreign policy. In North Macedonia, Russian propaganda relies on several recurring narratives that exploit domestic political tensions and social vulnerabilities. The impact of Russian propaganda in the Western Balkans is neither new …
Parliament now expected to lift immunity. Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Constitutional Court’s decision to leave in force the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Belinda Balluku has reopened a deep institutional conflict in Albania, sharpening tensions between the executive, the judiciary, and Parliament, while placing …
A Canadian on the run in Bosnia, an Albanian’s controversial jaunt to Israel and a Brit looking to the Balkans for possible salvation – this week’s selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories has an international flavour. Original post Here
During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here
The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here
The US president’s son-in-law wants to build a tourism development in southern Albania, but residents of the unspoilt strip around Zvernec say a dispute over ownership of the land is being ignored. Original post Here
Tropojë Mayor Indicted for Illegal Roadworks Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 – In a case related to alleged abuse of office, Albania’s Special Court has sent Tropojë’s mayor Rexhë Byberi and his deputy Abedin Kërrnaja to trial on charges of “abuse of office” related to local infrastructure projects. The officials are …
The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here