Why is this important: The upcoming protest has become the latest flashpoint between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Kosovo’s ruling Vetëvendosje movement, led by Albin Kurti. In an unexpected move, Vetëvendosje launched a harsh attack against Rama, accusing him of hypocrisy for supporting the protest despite once backing the creation of the Specialist Chambers — the very court now trying UÇK leaders.

Why is this important: The ICG, one of the most respected global conflict-analysis organizations, highlights a sharp cooling of ties between Kosovo and its Western allies — an alarming shift given the historic U.S. and EU role as the country’s strongest political and financial supporters. The report suggests that Kurti’s policies risk isolating Kosovo internationally and undermining the fragile progress made since independence.

Why is this important: Kosovo continues to miss out on millions of euros in EU funding due to its ongoing institutional crisis, which prevents it from formalizing the required agreements with the EU. While other countries move forward with economic support and integration projects, Kosovo’s political paralysis means it remains outside one of the region’s most significant financial initiatives.

Why is this important: The EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans aims to double the region’s GDP within the next decade, marking one of the EU’s most ambitious economic commitments in recent years. At the opening, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on European investors to seize the opportunity: “The time to invest in the Western Balkans is now. Returns are promising, and the future of the region lies within our Union.”

Why is this important: The attack on a BDI election candidate raises serious concerns about rising political tensions and the fragile interethnic stability in North Macedonia. Tensions between the Macedonian and Albanian communities have deepened since the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE government took power, vowing to roll back many of the rights and guarantees secured under the Ohrid Agreement. While the motives and perpetrators of the shooting remain unknown, the incident risks further escalating divisions in a country still marked by the memory of the 2001 armed conflict between ethnic Albanian insurgents and Macedonian security forces.