Western Balkans

Edi Rama at Munich Security Conference: EU must move faster on enlargement

Prime Minister Edi Rama participated in the “EU Enlargement” panel at the Munich Security Conference, alongside European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Marta Kos and North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan...

Western Balkans advance toward SEPA integration for cross-border Euro payments

After the European Payments Council approved the inclusion of Albania and Montenegro in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) schemes in November 2024, financial institutions in both countries will begin...

Supermarkets boycotted in protest in Western Balkans countries

A growing movement has taken root across parts of the Western Balkans, as citizens in several countries have initiated boycotts of major supermarket chains. The initiative was first launched in...

Danish diplomat Sørensen confirmed as EU envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue

Danish diplomat Peter Sørensen has been endorsed by European Union ambassadors as the EU special representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. Sorensen was appointed by Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative...

A regional instant payment system is set to be established in the Western Balkans

The Bank of Albania, alongside the Bank of Italy and central banks from Kosovo, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, has signed an agreement to establish a regional instant payment system...

EU Envoy focuses on missing persons in Kosovo-Serbia talks

According to Kosova Press, the European Union’s Envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajčák, announced that this week’s discussions in Brussels will focus on the inaugural meeting of the Joint...

2024 in review: Western Balkans between EU integration and persisting tensions

The Western Balkans continued to navigate a challenging dual dynamic in 2024: the pursuit of European Union (EU) integration on the one hand and the enduring shadow of inter-ethnic tensions...

Albanian and Kosovo Parliaments convene in Pristina for joint session

130 Members of Parliament from Albania and Kosovo, alongside their respective government cabinets, gathered in Pristina for a joint session that marked a milestone in fostering unity and cooperation between...

EU Summit highlights Western Balkans’ path to integration

The leaders of the European Union and the Western Balkans convened on December 18 in Brussels. The summit focused on urging countries in the region to resolve longstanding disputes, both...

Albania to open EU negotiations for Cluster 6 on December 17

The European Council has published the agenda for the Third Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) between Albania and the European Union, scheduled for December 17, 2024, in Brussels. The conference will mark...