• CEC plans to conclude vote recount today (Albanian Post)
• CEC chief meets senior German official, discuss conclusion of vote recount (media)
• Osmani meets Prattipati; “Kosovo believes in Trump’s leadership” (media)
• Osmani: Board of Peace reflects what American leadership and strength can achieve (media)
• Kosovo establishes working group for enforcement of laws on foreigners and vehicles (media)
• Requests to increase energy tariffs, ERO says it will approve only reasonable costs (media)
• PDK is against increased energy tariffs (media)
• Kurti talks about heating: We spend a lot of electricity on heating (media)
• AmCham warns of possible increased prices: EC to urgently engage in unblocking borders (Koha)
• US Embassy official visits Decani Monastery (Kossev)
• Vucic: Concerned about military alliances in neighborhood against Serbia (Kosovo Online)

CEC plans to conclude vote recount today (Albanian Post)

Spokesperson for Kosovo’s Central Election Commission (CEC) Valmir Elezi said that the CEC is planning to conclude the vote recount from the December 28 parliamentary elections today. He said that over 90 percent of polling stations have been recounted. “Once the recount is finalized, the CEC will announce the final election results,” he said.

CEC chief meets senior German official, discuss conclusion of vote recount (media)

Kosovo’s Central Election Commission chief Kreshnik Radoniqi met on Thursday with the deputy head of the Western Balkans Department of the German Foreign Ministry, Matthias Conrad, and the German deputy ambassador to Kosovo, Christian Bottcher, and briefed them on the conclusion of the vote recount and preparations to announce the final results of the December 28 parliamentary elections. Conrad commended the work of the CEC and the “professional management of the election process”.

Osmani meets Prattipati; “Kosovo believes in Trump’s leadership” (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani met on Thursday with US Embassy Charge d’affaires Anu Prattipati and said that Kosovo believes in the leadership of US President Donald Trump. They discussed Kosovo’s membership in the Board of Peace, with Osmani saying that Kosovo’s alignment with the US has always been the right and strategic decision. “Osmani said that Kosovo believes in President Trump’s leadership and that it stands ready to give concrete and responsible contribution to international efforts to maintain peace, stability and security,” a press release issued by Osmani’s office notes.

Osmani: Board of Peace reflects what American leadership and strength can achieve (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said in a post on X on Thursday that the Board of Peace reflects what American leadership and strength can achieve. “Kosovo is honored to stand with US President Donald Trump and other founding member states in advancing peace globally,” she said.

Kosovo establishes working group for enforcement of laws on foreigners and vehicles (media)

The Kosovo government has brought together a group of institutional officials, including legal experts and others, in order to address issues deriving from the enforcement of the law on foreigners and the law on vehicles, a spokesperson for the caretaker government confirmed to Radio Free Europe on Thursday. “The role and responsibility of this group is to clarify the requirements foreseen by the laws, but at the same time the engagement of the state vis-à-vis the entities that are affected by the laws, with the aim of facilitating their full enforcement,” the spokesperson said, without specifying who is part of the working group.

The spokesperson also said that representatives of the international community in Kosovo have already been notified about the group and that “the initial meetings have taken place”.

Requests to increase energy tariffs, ERO says it will approve only reasonable costs (media)

The three energy operators in Kosovo have requested increased energy tariffs for this year. The requests were sent by the Energy Supply Operator (KESCO), the Trade, Transmission and System Operator (KOSTT) and the Kosovo Energy Distribution Company (KEDS) to the Energy Regulator Office. Representatives of the latter told Radio Free Europe that the requests would be reviewed and that only costs which are considered reasonable would be adopted. KESCO has asked for a 20 percent increase of energy tariffs for this year, citing an increase in operational costs and for sustainable energy supply. 

Koha notes in its coverage that another increase this year would mark the fourth increase in energy tariffs in Kosovo since 2022. The news website also notes that a final decision on the requests is expected in the coming months. 

PDK is against increased energy tariffs (media)

Most news websites reported on Thursday that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the biggest opposition party, said it was against the possibility of increased energy tariffs, following a request for a 20 percent increase by KESCO. “At a time when our people are faced with constant rising prices, low salaries and high living costs, such an increase in energy tariffs would further the social and economic crisis in the country. Many families in our country are now living on the brink of financial survival, and this decision would bring additional uncertainties, increased poverty and a serious threat to their well-being,” the PDK said in a statement.

The PDK also said that it finds unacceptable any attempt to shift the weight of mismanagement and failures in the energy sector to the people of Kosovo. “Electricity is a basic need and treating it as such is an institutional obligation,” they said.

Kurti talks about heating: We spend a lot of electricity on heating (media)

Several news websites report that on the same day when KESCO has asked for an increase in energy tariffs in 2026, Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti during a visit at the Kosovo Innovation Centre commented on expenditures for heating and said that the people of Kosovo prefer to have a very hot atmosphere in their apartments. “We need to manage the fact that we are spending a lot of electricity in heating … The temperatures in our rooms is visible higher than normal,” Kurti said. “In terms of [energy] consumption, we need to manage the situation especially with regards to heating.”

AmCham warns of possible increased prices: EC to urgently engage in unblocking borders (Koha)

The American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo (AmCham) said in a statement on Thursday that the European Commission to urgently engage in finding a sustainable solution to the current challenges that are affecting the international transport of goods and cross-border supply chains. 

“Recent developments, including blockades of border crossings by truck drivers in several countries in the region, related to the implementation and enforcement of new rules for entry into the European Union and the EES system, are significantly hindering the movement of goods. The free movement of goods and the uninterrupted functioning of road freight transport are essential for ensuring sustainable supply chains, supporting economic activity and advancing economic integration with the EU single market. Given Kosovo’s high dependence on imports and transit through regional corridors, prolonged disruptions undermine supply stability, risk increasing operating costs for businesses, and consequently contribute to rising prices for consumers. These developments could also negatively impact investment planning and financial obligations related to production cycles and delivery times,” AmCham argued. 

US Embassy official visits Decani Monastery (Kossev)

The US Embassy in Pristina said in a Facebook post on Thursday that Political-Economic Counselor Amy Reichert visited the Decani Monastery on Thursday and met with Father Sava “to learn more about the history of this remarkable cultural heritage site and hear the concerns of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo”. “She reaffirmed the United States’ strong support for religious freedom and peaceful coexistence for all communities in Kosovo,” the post notes.

Vucic: Concerned about military alliances in neighborhood against Serbia (Kosovo Online)

We are very concerned about the formation of military alliances against Serbia in our neighborhood, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said after attending a briefing on the results of the analysis of the situation and the operational and functional capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces for 2025. Vucic announced that a decision on mandatory military service would be made soon. “In line with that, we are acting seriously and responsibly, not provoking anyone, and seeking to deter a potential aggressor,” Vucic said.

Vucic also said that the capacities of the Serbian Air Force and Air Defense have been drastically increased and that they will be further strengthened in the coming period. 

He said that the meeting also discussed a 75-day period of military service. “We will be making decisions soon. The question is whether military service will begin in December or March. In any case, in the next month or two we will make a decision and submit it to the Assembly, and from September we will begin registration,” Vucic explained.