PM Haradinaj appoints his advisor as chief negotiator in talks with Serbia
At the proposal of the Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, the Government has appointed Avni Arifi as chief negotiator of Kosovo’s delegation in talks with Serbia. Arifi currently is chief of staff of the Prime Minister’s Office. Original post Here
Kosovo President hires US firm to improve image internationally
Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, has contracted a US company aimed at improving his image internationally. According to Kosovo news outlet Insajderi the President’s Office confirmed the contract on the night Kosovo MPs launched an unexpected initiative to undo The Hague based international war crimes court. Thaci’s name is mentioned as …
Fajon: The EU needs to bring the Western Balkans to better life
We need to bring the Western Balkans to better life, to give perspectives to young people, to open the borders, stated the Member of the European Parliament, Tanja Fajon for Euronews. Original post Here
Draft Law on Army ready by April
On 17 February Kosovo celebrates tenth anniversary of its Independence. But despite being independent and sovereign the country has not established its regular army which is one of the main pillars of a sovereign state. The Ministry of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) says that the Draft Law on transformation of …
EU issues fresh warning about Kosovo plans to undo war crimes court
The European Union has issued a fresh warning on Friday against Kosovo Parliament initiative to abrogate the Law on Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecution Office, established to try alleged crimes committed by the KLA during and after the war. In a joint statement of the Head of EU Office and …
Macedonian MPs pass law making Albanian official language
Macedonian lawmakers have passed a law making Albanian the country’s second official language in a vote boycotted by main opposition party. Original post Here
Kosovo PM Haradinaj applies for Albanian passport
Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, was granted Albanian citizenship on 24 April 2017, and this week he applied for the Albanian Passport. Original post Here
Serbia has interviewed 460 witnesses of the Special Court
Council for Kosovo at the Parliament of Serbia has established a Working Group and they have immediately established relations with the Specialist Chambers and started cooperation with the Specialist Prosecutor, David Schwendiman. Original post Here
LDK assures German, France envoys that they will prevent initiatives against Special Court
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) during a meeting with the special envoys of Germany and France, have assured the EU diplomats that this opposition party will prevent the initiative to abrogate the Law on Special Court. Germany and France sent a joint delegation to Kosovo on Wednesday in latest …
Thaci says ambassadors overreacted related to Special Court’s initiative
Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, says the decision on establishment of the Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecution Office remains into force, despite the initiative of Kosovo MPs to repeal the Law. Original post Here
Tirana Times, March 26 , 2026 – The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) has awarded its prestigious annual “Jorgji Qirjako” Translation Prize for 2025 to historian and translator Ilir Ikonomi, recognizing his outstanding contribution to bringing major works of international scholarship to the Albanian audience. Ilir Ikonomi received the award …
From a political spying scandal to MAGA alignment and a brewing collision with the law, selection of BIRN Premium stories this week makes for an exciting read. Original post Here
The now-notorious hacker group Homeland Justice claimed that it had breached the computer defences of Albania’s postal service following its attack on parliament’s systems earlier this month. Original post Here
Charged with corruption, money laundering and concealment of wealth, ex-politician Monika Kryemadhi is rebranding herself as a showbiz celebrity on the Big Brother reality show, but can it keep her out of prison? Original post Here
An appeals court upheld the verdict jailing the former Socialist Party mayor of Himara, Jorgo Goro, who was at the centre of a political storm during a controversial election in 2023. Original post Here
The prime minister’s moves to shield his deputy from arrest feel like the beginning of the end of an era for Albanians’ hopes that the powerful would finally be held accountable. Original post Here
V Dem places Albania in a category dominated by African states, with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina the only Western Balkan countries in the same group. Tirana Times, March 23, 2026 – Albania has been placed in the category of electoral autocracy in the latest Democracy Report 2026 by the …
As oil and gas prices surge amid the Iran war, Balkan countries are pondering ways to reduce the impact on households and businesses. Original post Here
The controversy over Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has put the spotlight on prosecution efforts to target high-level corruption – but she is only the latest senior politician to face charges. Original post Here
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here