Albanian Language Media:

• Kosovo’s Special Prosecution welcomes EC report (media)
• CBK welcomes the EC’s positive assessment of stability of financial sector (media)
• RTK workers protest over salaries, indicate a strike (RFE)
• Kurti commends VLEN for winning 10 municipalities in North Macedonia (media)
• Trump: I ended eight wars in eight months (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic says he believes EU will help implement what was signed in 2013, establishment of Community of Serbian Municipalities (media)
• Selective accreditation of media also in second round of elections (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)
• Hasani: Osmani’s arbitrary decision – she violated Constitution by granting mandate to Konjufca (Kosovo Online)
• Shahini: Kosovo risks being left without a budget, responsibility lies with ruling party (Kosovo Online)
• Wounded EU official in stable condition, special prosecution took over investigation (KoSSev, media)
• Trumps says again he ‘intervened to stop war between Kosovo and Serbia’ (Kosovo Online, media)
• Kosovo police continue installation of surveillance cameras in northern Kosovo (KoSSev)
• Djuric meets Titolo: It is encouraging to witness steady upward trajectory of Serbia-US political dialogue (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Serbian DefMin discusses cooperation with China (N1)
• Finance Minister: I hope two big powers will find solution for NIS very soon (Tanjug)

International:

• Kosovo unmoved by Kurti’s surprise choice for Prime Minister (Balkan Insight)
• Dark secrets: How encrypted comms boosted organised crime in the Balkans (Balkan Insight)

Albanian Language Media 

Kosovo’s Special Prosecution welcomes EC report (media)

Most news websites report that the Special Prosecution of Kosovo has welcomed the EC Progress Report for 2025 which highly evaluates the work in the fight against organized crime and high-level corruption. “The report highlights the continuous improvement in trying cases of high-level corruption and organized crime, with increased final decisions and announcement of verdicts. It also positively assesses the filing of war crimes indictments in line with international standards. The Special Prosecution remains committed to implementing the recommendations and strengthening the fight against crime and corruption,” the Special Prosecution said.

CBK welcomes the EC’s positive assessment of stability of financial sector (media)

The Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) said in a statement on Wednesday that it welcomes the European Commission’s positive assessments of the financial sector in the 2025 Kosovo Report. “The report highlights that the country’s financial sector has maintained high resiliency, increased capitalization, and made significant progress in aligning with European Union standards. According to the report, Kosovo’s banking sector continued to expand at a steady pace, maintaining adequate levels of capital and liquidity. The report highlights that banks’ regulatory capital increased significantly above the required minimum, while the ratio of non-performing loans remained at a historically low level. It also commends the adoption of the Regulation on Macroprudential Capital Buffers and the plan for implementing the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP), in line with the guidelines of the European Banking Authority (EBA). In the field of payments, the report highlights the progress made through the adoption of the Law on Payment Services and the CBK’s membership in the European Automated Clearing House Association (EACHA), which enables direct cooperation with central banks of EU member states to advance payment systems. It also notes the growth in the number and value of electronic payments during 2024, as well as the expansion of financial service coverage in the northern municipalities of Kosovo,” the statement notes.

The statement also notes that “the European Commission praises the active role of the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo in combating euro counterfeiting, emphasizing the concrete measures taken to strengthen mechanisms for the prevention and detection of counterfeit currency. The CBK has taken steps to improve the handling of counterfeit euro banknotes and coins and to enhance cooperation with domestic and international institutions in this area, in accordance with EU standards. The CBK has also received positive recognition for its steps toward digitalization and sustainable finance. The report highlights the adoption of an action plan for managing climate and environmental risks in the financial sector, as well as strengthened cooperation with the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund, which has enabled increased access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, supporting projects in agriculture and energy efficiency. The report acknowledges progress in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing through the adoption of new laws on AML/CFT, Payment Services, and Crypto-Assets aiming to align with the EU’s Fourth and Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directives. The European Commission noted the CBK’s transition from a compliance-based supervisory framework to a risk-based one, harmonizing practices with international FATF and EU standards”.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/d00eh

RTK workers protest over salaries, indicate a strike (RFE)

Dozens of workers of the Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) protested today in front of the national broadcaster, because of delayed salaries, and indicating that they will organize a strike if their demands are not met. The protest, which was organized by the Union of RTK Workers, included banners such as “RTK workers – not victims of the crisis”, “Reporters without salaries, a democracy without a voice” and “RTK does not stay silent even in darkness”.

The news website notes that 700 workers of the only public broadcaster in Kosovo have not received their November salaries, because the second part of the budget for RTK for this year has not been allocated yet. The annual budget for RTK is €8.9 million.

Gezim Bimbashi, a reporter and union representative, called on the Kosovo Assembly, the caretaker government and the RTK management to work on passing the budget for the RTK. “We have been patient, but our patience has limits. If a solution is not found soon, the union of workers of RTK will consider the legal possibilities of entering a general strike. And if silence and ignorance [to the demands] continues, our protest can even escalate,” he said.

The news website also notes that the RTK is facing financial difficulties for some time now as its annual report needs to be discussed by the Kosovo Assembly’s budget committee – which has not been formed yet – in order to have a budget for the salaries of over 700 workers.

Today’s protest comes after an earlier protest in August this year, after which the caretaker government approved the RTK’s request for a loan of €2.5 million. But several days ago, caretaker Minister of Finance Hekuran Murati said that the caretaker government cannot make another decision like the one in August, and that the responsibility for allocating funds for the RTK lies with the Kosovo Assembly and not the government. He also argued that the solution for the salaries of RTK workers depends on the formation of parliamentary committees.

Kurti commends VLEN for winning 10 municipalities in North Macedonia (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister and Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti, in a Facebook post today, congratulated VLEN for winning in ten municipalities after the local elections in North Macedonia. “My two friends, Izet and Bilall, won with merit because they had concrete projects and honest work … The success in the local elections is a confirmation of the good governance by VLEN, the will for change among Albanians and a great opportunity for reforms in North Macedonia. In the first 15 months in power, VLEN governed with clean hands, without corruption and scandals and also made an ethical difference compared to previous governments. It is precisely this spirit of change that resulted in a more open and multi-dimensional cooperation between Kosovo and North Macedonia. From the substantial meeting of our two governments and to the joint border management, Kosovo and North Macedonia have furthered neighborly relations like never before. The Government of Kosovo welcomes the democratic developments in North Macedonia, as proof of the European perspective of our partner and ally,” Kurti said.

Trump: I ended eight wars in eight months (media)

Several news websites report that US President Donald Trump, in his address at the American Business Forum, said that he ended eight wars in eight months. “In eight months, I ended eight wars, including Kosovo and Serbia, Congo and Rwanda that was going on for a long time, Pakistan and India, Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Cambodia and Thailand. All of them were at war,” Trump said.

Serbian Language Media 

Vucic says he believes EU will help implement what was signed in 2013, establishment of Community of Serbian Municipalities (media)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said today upon receiving the EU Progress Report on Serbia from the head of the EU Delegation to Belgrade, Andreas von Beckerath he is convinced that the European Union as an organization valuing its own words and signatures, will help Serbia so that everything signed in 2013 in relation to Kosovo will be implemented and Community of the Serbian Municipalities established. 

Von Beckerath said the future of Serbia is in the EU, adding that reforms were not easy but were necessary.

Vucic also said Kosovo is very important for Serbia and “a part of the territory we consider our state in line with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, UN Charter and Resolution 1244”.  

“It is about Kosovo and Metohija. You said all commitments from the 2023 agreement must be fulfilled. Before that, I am certain that the European Union as an organization, that always honours its words, and in particular its signatures, wishes that everything signed on April 19, 2013 is also fully implemented, so more than 10 years ago. I am convinced you will help us in that, which has not been truly the case over the last 12 years. But I believe it will happen in the end”, Vucic said, addressing von Beckerath.

He also said as far as event from autumn in 2023 (in reference to Banjska armed incident) is concerned, he believes that the European Union will also influence that all those who were responsible for events from 2008 till the end of 2025, in which Serbs were killed, wounded, arbitrarily arrested, will finally have a closure and justice will be served.

Von Beckerath said in his address the report shows where Serbia is on its European path today and what reforms should be implemented. He said this is not a critical document, but rather an indicator of which areas need more work. He assessed the pace of reforms as rather slow, while as positive he noted the events in economic criteria and number of the EU internal market policies. He added there are technical preconditions to open the Cluster 3 but it was up to the EU member states to make final say on that. 

Selective accreditation of media also in second round of elections (Radio Mitrovica sever, Kosovo Online)

The Central Election Commission approved accreditations for observers of political subjects, organizations, and media for the second round of local elections at its regular session. Kosovo Online portal, which was left without accreditation also in the first round of Kosovo local elections, was again not on the list of accredited media, reported Radio Mitrovica sever. 

According to the announcement of the CEC from yesterday's session, in addition to observers of political entities, the CEC accredited 32 local and international media outlets, and among the media that report in Serbian, the following are accredited: Gracanica online, Radio KiM, TV Herz and RTV Puls.

Radio Mitrovica sever recalled that non-accreditation of Serbian media, pressure on journalists, but also favoring big parties are key objections to the recently concluded first round of local elections in Kosovo.

On the eve of the first round of elections, media associations addressed the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, representatives of UNMIK, OSCE, the European Union office in Pristina, the European and International Federation of Journalists, as well as the Ombudsman in Pristina, Naim Qelaj, and asked them to act in accordance with their mandate and provide journalists from Serbian newsrooms in Kosovo an opportunity to inform the public about the elections on Sunday.

UNS and its branch, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo and Metohija (DNKIM), demanded from the representatives of these institutions and organizations that they urgently condemn the decision of CEC, which refused to accredit all media reporting in the Serbian language for monitoring the local elections in Kosovo.

The UNS informed the representatives of these institutions and organizations that about ninety percent of the newsrooms whose request to cover the elections was rejected are newsrooms in the Serbian language, while the other ten percent were Albanian and regional newsrooms.

Hasani: Osmani’s arbitrary decision – she violated Constitution by granting mandate to Konjufca (Kosovo Online)

Former President of the Constitutional Court, Enver Hasani, stated that Vjosa Osmani violated the Constitution by granting the mandate to Glauk Konjufca to form a new government of Kosovo, reported Kosovo Online. 

In the “Konfront” program on KTV, Hasani said that this decision was also arbitrary, explaining that Osmani cannot decide simply because she believed or felt that Konjufca has enough votes.

“First of all, this is an abuse of power, because the mandate of the Constitutional Court was given arbitrarily, and it constitutes a violation of the Constitution due to the failure to respect the objective, measurable criteria established by the Constitution—and above all, by two rulings of the Constitutional Court. The first ruling, as you know, established the standard known as the decisive criterion, which entails a measurable assessment of two values each time. Whichever has greater value had to be complemented by the second ruling, which determined that the constitutional right or prerogative of the election winner had been abused, and measurable criteria were established. It was stated that there was an attempt to avoid elections. Based on the assessment of these two prevailing criteria, avoiding elections cannot prevail under any circumstances. The discretionary power of the President of the Republic is not arbitrariness—it does not mean she can do whatever she wants. What Osmani did was completely subjective,” Hasani said, reported Kosovo Online, citing Koha.

Shahini: Kosovo risks being left without a budget, responsibility lies with ruling party (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo Business Alliance Chairman Agim Shahini warned that due to the ongoing political crisis since the parliamentary elections held in February, Kosovo risks being left without a budget. As Shahini said, responsibility for the poor economic situation in Kosovo lies with the ruling party, Self-Determination. He also told Kosovo Online that without a budget, nothing can function and that salaries for workers in almost all sectors are now in question.

“Without a new government, we will face many problems. If we have new elections in December, as announced, we will be left almost without a state budget. This puts at risk financial transactions, domestic policy in Kosovo – aside from foreign policy – workers’ salaries, those in healthcare and education, as well as municipal budgets. Nothing can function without a budget. The ruling party is responsible for this situation”, Shahini said.

He added that 2025 has brought many changes to Kosovo, but unfortunately negative ones. According to him, the first task of the new Kosovo government – which he believes will not be formed anytime soon – will be to repair poor relations with the international community.

Wounded EU official in stable condition, special prosecution took over investigation (KoSSev, media)

Kosovo special prosecution has confirmed it took over the investigation of the attack with a sharp device against an EU official in Djakovica and started investigative actions, KoSSev portal reported.

In the meantime, a wounded EU official underwent medical treatment at the University Clinical Hospital Centre in Pristina. The director of the emergency center within this institution, Naser Syla, told the media that the wounded person was first treated at the emergency center and then transferred to the Thoracic Surgery Clinic for further treatment.

Syla also said that a wounded person is in stable condition. 

Trumps says again he ‘intervened to stop war between Kosovo and Serbia’ (Kosovo Online, media)

US President Donald Trump said the US has built peace across the world and reiterated an earlier claim that he stopped eight wars over the previous eight months, including “the one between Kosovo and Serbia”, Kosovo Online portal reported citing Pristina-based Reporteri.

“In eight months, I ended eight wars, including Kosovo and Serbia, the Congo and Rwanda, that was going on for a long time, Pakistan and India (…), Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Cambodia and Thailand. All of them were at war (…)”, Trump said among others.

US President Donald Trump made similar statements on ending wars across the globe several times during this year, the portal recalled. 

Kosovo police continue installation of surveillance cameras in northern Kosovo (KoSSev)

Kosovo police continued today making infrastructure for installation of surveillance cameras along the Mitrovica-North road KoSSev portal reported. The works are part of their last year’s plan to install surveillance cameras at different locations across northern Kosovo.

A KoSSev reporter confirmed on the ground that work started yesterday, followed by confirmation from Kosovo police today. “Yes, we continued with creating infrastructure for the installation of cameras in Zvecan, but not only that, the lighting cables in this section are also being fixed”, Kosovo police deputy commander for the North region, Veton Elshani told KoSSev. “As we did in Mitrovica, now it is done in Zvecan, and also in Leposavic, Zubin Potok. So, there will be cameras everywhere, as we announced last year”, he added. According to Elshani these are security cameras, not traffic cameras. “It’s just for safety, they don’t measure speed. But they can be used in some cases and for that matter”, he explained.

As Elshani said earlier around 200 surveillance cameras are planned to be installed in the four northern municipalities.  

Djuric meets Titolo: It is encouraging to witness steady upward trajectory of Serbia-US political dialogue (Kosovo Online, social media)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric said last night, in a conversation with the US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires to Serbia, Alexander Titolo, that it is encouraging to witness the strengthening of political dialogue between Serbia and the United States.

“It is encouraging to witness the steady upward trajectory of the Serbia-United States political dialogue, marked by frequent high-level exchanges – such as the recent meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session - and by the clear mutual commitment to further deepening our partnership, which I emphasized today in my conversation with Alexander Titolo, Chargé d’Affaires at @USEmbassySerbia”,  Djuric wrote on in a post on X social platform. 

Serbian DefMin discusses cooperation with China (N1)

Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic discussed stronger cooperation between the Serbian and Chinese military during his visit to Beijing, a press release said, N1 reported.

The statement said Gasic met with the Vice-Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission General Zhang Youxia and told him Belgrade believes in the principle of strengthening its own defence capabilities with the aim of repelling potential security threats and preserving stability. He voiced the expectation that excellent cooperation between the two countries in the military-technical field will continue to their mutual benefit.

General Zhang is quoted as saying that the meeting provided an opportunity for a constructive discussion on defence with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the two armed forces. “The tete-a-tete talks were followed by a meeting of the delegations of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China dedicated to bilateral military cooperation between the two countries”, the press release noted

Finance Minister: I hope two big powers will find solution for NIS very soon (Tanjug)

Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said on Thursday he hoped a solution for Serbia's Russian-majority owned oil company NIS would be found by two big powers very soon, Tanjug news agency reported.

"We have already left a certain degree of flexibility in the budget so that we can react to the situation surrounding NIS. We are watching the situation. If the information is good and accurate, the Russian side is already negotiating and trying to find a solution together with the Americans. We are watching developments, and we will support solutions that make sense for the Serbian citizens and the government", Mali told the RTS.

He said a solution implied preservation of energy stability and NIS itself and that work on this was underway "in a very careful manner".

International

Kosovo unmoved by Kurti’s surprise choice for Prime Minister (Balkan Insight)

Acting premier Albin Kurti’s unexpected decision to nominate Glauk Konjufca to finally form a government looks destined to fail – as all the other big parties have already opted for new elections.

Members of Vetevendosje’s General Council rushed one after another into party headquarters in Pristina on Tuesday to raise their hands in a formal vote – which saw party leader Albin Kurti surprisingly withdraw his candidacy as Prime Minister.

Applause followed when Kurti said he had instead proposed that former parliamentary speaker Glauk Konjufca receive a mandate to form a government. This came ten days after Kurti’s attempt to form a government failed in parliament – he received only 56 votes out of the necessary 61, making him the first prime ministerial candidate not to obtain a majority for his new cabinet.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/ya5ex9nc

Dark secrets: How encrypted comms boosted organised crime in the Balkans (Balkan Insight)

Encrypted platforms and secure devices have helped crime gangs in the Balkans to coordinate trafficking and payments – but while police have cracked several of them, the criminals quickly adopt new tools.

At the trial in Montenegro of the alleged Radoje Zvicer criminal group in October, a ballistics expert raised a serious issue about the use of evidence from the encrypted Sky ECC communications app, which was cracked by law enforcement agencies.

The expert admitted that he could not verify that the weapons shown in photos obtained from the Sky ECC app were real, as he had only seen images of them, without having physical access.

Defence lawyers argued that such photo-based evidence should be excluded, calling it legally unreliable and “unprecedented in Montenegrin courts”. 

The ballistics expert, Milovan Mihailovic, told the Higher Court in Podgorica that, “in a 30-year career, I have never been tasked with examining weapons solely based on photographs”. He did not have physical access to the weapons, and did not know who had taken the photos of the either.

The prosecution maintained that the photos were lawfully obtained and were valid as evidence. The court has not yet decided on their admissibility.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/4m5d5u43