The EU has announced that it signed an agreement with Albania that will allow its border patrols to be present and work in that country.

According to AP, cited by Tanjug, this is "the first time the bloc has concluded such an accord."
The deal is aimed at tackling irregular migration, in particular sudden changes in migratory flows, and cross-border crime, it was stated in Brussels on Friday.

As many as two thirds (68 pct) of Albanians have the most negative opinion about Serbians, compared to all other nations in the surrounding region.

At the same time, one third of Serbians (33 pct) holds the same opinion toward Albanians, a Faktor Plus poll has shown.

The European Union is planning to deploy its Frontex border service in the Western Balkans, Radio Deutsche Welle has reported.

The EU is planning to significantly reinforce Frontex as part of its migration policies, the station said.

In an interview for the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, Albanian President Ilir Meta said that Kosovo and Serbia should reach an agreement without changing the borders.

Asked whether he fears the region's destabilization due to tensions between Kosovo and Serbia lately, the Albanian president said that good relations between Belgrade and Pristina are needed for peace, not only in the region, but also wider.

The European Union has been weakened by Brexit and may need to postpone plans for expansion into the Western Balkans, the President of Slovenia has warned.

Borut Pahor said the bloc could not hope to take on the likes of Serbia, Montenegro and Albania as new members in its current state.

Speaking in the presence of the European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, Mr Pahor said: "A weak EU will not be able to expand to the Western Balkans.”

Serbian media reported yesterday that Albania would be hosting an informal meeting of the heads of the Western Balkan governments, citing a statement of the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's cabinet.

The cabinet's statement reads that the topic of the meeting will be "regional economic integration", the development of a common vision for EU accession, implementation of the regional economic zone and other issues.

Commander of the Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, Admiral James G. Foggo, said this in an interview for the Serbian daily Blic.

He added that there was intent to have a broader discussion with the EU within the September dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

Admiral Foggo also said the people had to use their right to vote and express their opinion in the elections and not with violence in the streets. Those who want piece, NATO would be there if asked for help, and for the rest who had "ulterior motives" NATO " would be there if necessary".

The realization of the "Greater Albania" idea essentially, but not formally, continues with the announced opening of the Albania - "state of Kosovo" border.

Dusan Prorokovic from the Institute for International Politics and Economy said this on Thursday, adding that the self-proclaimed state and Albania have signed more than ten "bilateral agreements" since 2009.

Albanian Minister Pandeli Majko saying that "the border between Albania and Kosovo" will be opened starting on January 1 "lacks seriousness and responsibility."

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric reacted in this way on Thursday, adding that the statement of the Albanian minister in charge of the diaspora only served to further aggravate relations in the region.

"Serbs and Albanians - Which Way Further?" is the theme of an international conference to be organized by Tanjug and Albanian ATA news agencies.

Tanjug announced the event would take place in Belgrade on Tuesday at Hotel Metropol Palace.