• Police start information campaign on laws on foreigners and vehicles (TeVe1)
• Kosovo in 2026: Internal stability needed amid changing global order (BIRN)
• Minimal wage decision enters into force, €425 from Jan, and €500 from July (media)
• Police carry out anti-gambling operation in Zubin Potok (RFE)
• Chief prosecutor: We’ll soon file indictment about massacre of Jashari family (media)
• PDK: Trial in Hague to conclude with justice and freedom for the liberators (media)
• Petkovic: Healthcare, education - backbone for survival of Serbs in Kosovo (Kossev)
• Kosovo brings TPPs to full capacity to secure power supply (SeeNews)
• Trump visa freeze sparks blame game in Albania (BIRN)

Police start information campaign on laws on foreigners and vehicles (TeVe1)

Kosovo Police launched an information campaign about the laws on foreigners and vehicles at the crossing points, including the Jarinje crossing point, the new website reports. As part of the campaign, Serbs entering Kosovo are being informed by police officers about the laws that are now in force and the procedures they include. The information campaign will last until March 15. Some Serbs that entered Kosovo through Serbia told TeVe1 that they were informed by the Kosovo Police. “Kosovo Police have informed us about the two laws,” they said.

Several news websites recall that Kosovo caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi said in a Facebook post on Thursday that the implementation of the Law on Foreigners and the Law on Vehicles begins today. “During the first phase, visitors entering through border crossings will be provided with informational materials outlining the relevant procedures and rules. This initial phase will last until March 15. Following this period, the full implementation of all procedures and regulations provided for under the aforementioned laws will commence. The Government of the Republic of Kosovo emphasizes that this period of affirmative implementation should be used to the fullest extent to initiate the process of meaningful integration of the health and education systems throughout Kosovo,” he said.

Kosovo in 2026: Internal stability needed amid changing global order (BIRN)

Vetevendosje’s recent election win might end Kosovo’s political gridlock but the country must step up reforms and adapt to a more turbulent world, experts warn.

Kosovo entered 2026 just after a major election win by Vetevendosje, the party led by Albin Kurti that has ruled the country for the last five years and which will likely form the next government, putting an end to the institutional paralysis that marked 2025.

Kosovo began and ended 2025 with parliamentary elections, first on February 9, then on December 28. The inconclusive first election led to months of impasse over how to constitute parliament, before a speaker was finally elected in August.

Even then, the winning Vetevendosje party failed to find the allies it needed to form a majority, forcing new elections. This resulted in a clear win by Vetevendosje, which secured 57 seats in the 120-seat Assembly. Experts say this will finally bring much-needed stability.

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Decision on minimal wage enters into force, €425 from Jan, and €500 from July (media)

Several news websites report that the Kosovo government adopted today the decision to increase the minimal wage. The minimal wage will be €425 gross starting January 1 this year, and €500 gross starting from July 1. 

Police carry out anti-gambling operation in Zubin Potok (RFE)

Kosovo Police carried out an operation in Zubin Potok on Thursday during which it raided three facilities suspected of organizing gambling. “In three locations, police found technological equipment that enable gambling and there are five suspects, three of whom were interviewed, and another two were not found there but their identities are known to the police. Five witnesses were also interviewed,” Kosovo Police Deputy Director for the north, Veton Elshani, told Radio Free Europe. Police also said that the prosecutor ordered the initiation of three cases related to the criminal offence of “organizing pyramid schemes and illegal games of chance”.

Chief prosecutor: We’ll soon file indictment about massacre of Jashari family (media)

Chief prosecutor of the Special Prosecution of Kosovo, Blerim Isufaj, told Klan Kosova on Thursday that they will soon file an indictment about the massacre against the Jashari family by Serbian forces in March 1998. “We will file an indictment about what happened to the Jashari family, and I will say very soon,” Isufaj said.

PDK: Trial in Hague to conclude with justice and freedom for the liberators (media)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said in a statement today that the trial against the former KLA leaders in the Hague should conclude with justice. The statement comes one day after the Specialist Chambers of Kosovo in the Hague said that the closing statements in the trial of Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi will take place on 9 to 13, 16 and 18 February. PDK argued today that the court proceedings were characterized by unnecessary delays, procedural uncertainties and decisions that raised continuous concerns about judicial standards and the respect for basic human rights. “In the closing phase, it is crucial for the trial to focus exclusively on the impartiality of justice, facts and evidence, and eliminate every political or speculative approach that has accompanied the process for the last five years,” the statement notes.

The PDK also said that the key witnesses in the court proceedings have clearly ruled out the claims of the prosecution and removed any doubt over individual, group or command responsibility. “The Democratic Party of Kosovo remains committed to the rule of law, peace and justice, and believes that only a fair and professional decision can contribute to closing this important chapter for Kosovo, international justice and the future of our region,” the statement notes.

Petkovic: Healthcare, education - backbone for survival of Serbs in Kosovo (Kossev)

Head of the Serbian government’s office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, in a meeting with EU special representative for dialogue, Peter Sorensen, in Belgrade today said that for every tangible progress in the dialogue steps needs to be made first on the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities.

Petkovic said that the postponement of the laws on foreigners and vehicles in Kosovo must not be the final objective of the international community, and that the period should be used to find a sustainable solution in line with the agreements reached in dialogue, especially those related to the freedom of movement. 

Petkovic also argued that healthcare and education represent the backbone “for the survival of Serbs in Kosovo”.

Kosovo brings TPPs to full capacity to secure power supply (SeeNews)

Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK) said on Thursday that they are now running at full capacity through five generating units simultaneously to ensure stability of energy supply. “KEK underlines that under normal conditions it operates four generating units, while during periods of lower temperatures it has been maximally engaged in bringing a fifth unit into operation as well,” KEK wrote on Facebook. KEK has deployed an additional unit while also resuming production in two units which suffered defects and is now generating a total daily output of 20,000 MWh. The announcement follows Wednesday's statement by Kosovo Electricity Supply Company (KESCO), which said Kosovo had been facing power cuts due to extraordinarily high demand which cannot be fully covered by domestic production. On Wednesday, KEK said it had resumed production at Unit 1 of coal-fired TPP Kosova B, after a temporary shutdown caused by steam leaks in the boiler piping system.

Trump visa freeze sparks blame game in Albania (BIRN)

A US freeze on immigrant visas for 75 countries has sparked a political row in Albania, with the opposition blaming Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government.

On Thursday, Elisa Spiropali, Albania’s Foreign Minister, rebuffed the opposition’s claims that the US move is a response to Rama’s policies.

“The latest US decision has not blocked the movement and travel of Albanian citizens to the US. Not at all. Neither have visas for tourist purposes, students, business, family visits or work-related events been blocked,” Spiropali said in a video statement.

A day earlier, Belind Kellici, an opposition MP, said the decision “puts Albania on a blacklist” and accused Prime Minister Rama of being responsible for this.

“The recent decision to suspend visas from the US, as protection from enemy countries, or those that are sources of illegal immigration, places Albania on another blacklist, thanks to the leader of the first narco-state in Europe, Edi Rama,” Kellici said on Wednesday.

The political row in Albania erupted after the US State Department said on Wednesday it will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries “whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.

“The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” it declared.

On January 4, President Donald Trump published a list of countries whose immigrants receive welfare from the US public funds. The list stated that 41.3 per cent of immigrant households from Albania receive welfare.

The list of 75 countries affected by the visa freeze also includes Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

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