Balkan Regional Review

Albania Daily News

The Battle for Ulcinj;s Soul

Summary: For centuries, Ulcinj has stood as a bastion of Albanian identity – a city that has withstood empires, survived wards, welcomed the displaced, and protected itspeople from suffering and erasure. URL: https://albaniandailynews.com/news/the-battle-for-ulcinj-s-soul

Tirana Times

“Eco​nomy is shouting loud – take care of me”
Summary: The article emphasizes the need for the Albanian government to prioritize economic development, suggesting that political interference should be minimized to foster a healthy economy. URL: Tirana Times

EuroNews

LaCivita at the Democratic Party meeting with emigrants in Italy: You hold Albania’s future in your hands

Summary: The chairman of the Democratic Party and of the “Alliance for a Great Albania” coalition, Sali Berisha, was in Brescia on Sunday afternoon for a meeting with Albanian emigrants. Also present at the meeting was the Democratic Party’s campaign director, Chris LaCivita, who in his speech urged emigrants to vote for the Democratic Party to bring change to Albania. URL: https://euronews.al/en/lacivita-at-the-democratic-party-meeting-with-emigrants-in-italy-you-hold-albanias-future-in-your-hands/

Federalna Novinska Agencija

Bećirović in Brussels presents several concrete proposals, including long-term NATO presence in BiH

BRUSSELS/SARAJEVO – Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović, speaking today at a meeting with the North Atlantic Council in Brussels, presented several concrete proposals, including the idea of ensuring a long-term presence of NATO forces at military bases in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He stated that such a presence would be the best way to prevent threats to peace and security in BiH and the wider region. URL: https://www.fena.ba/article/1623254/becirovic-in-brussels-presents-several-concrete-proposals-including-long-term-nato-presence-in-bih

Sarajevo Times

“NATO will not allow Peace in BiH to be threatened

Summary: NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska said in Brussels on Tuesday, ahead of a meeting with members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, that the Alliance will not allow the hard-won peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be jeopardized, Anadolu reports. URL: https://sarajevotimes.com/nato-will-not-allow-peace-in-bih-to-be-threatened/

The SRPSKA Times

“​Macut: The Letter of the Dayton Agreement Must Be Respected”
Summary: Dr. Đuro Macut emphasized the importance of adhering to the Dayton Peace Agreement’s provisions to maintain stability and unity within Bosnia and Herzegovina. URL: https://thesrpskatimes.com/macut-the-letter-of-the-dayton-agreement-must-be-respected/

Bulgarian Telegraph Agency

“Bul​garia Meets Eurozone Criteria, Says Assen Vassilev”
Summary: Finance Minister Assen Vassilev announced that Bulgaria has met all the nominal criteria for joining the Eurozone, including inflation and budget deficit requirements, positioning the country favorably for euro adoption. URL: https://www.bta.bg/en/news/economy/872981-bulgaria-meets-eurozone-criteria-says-assen-vassilev

The Sofia Globe

“FDI in Bulgaria in January-February 2025 was 685.6M Euro”
Summary: Foreign direct investment in Bulgaria reached 685.6 million euros during the first two months of 2025, indicating strong investor confidence in the country’s economic prospects. URL: https://sofiaglobe.com/2025/04/15/fdi-in-bulgaria-in-january-february-2025-was-685-6m-euro/

Novinite

“​Fitch Reaffirms Bulgaria’s Credit Rating, Highlights Eurozone Prospects”
Summary: Fitch Ratings reaffirmed Bulgaria’s long-term credit rating at ‘BBB’ with a positive outlook, citing the country’s potential accession to the Eurozone as a key factor. URL: Novinite

Croatian News Agency

Duda wants more Croatian troops in Poland, offers border police assistance

ZAGREB – During his meeting with Croatian President Zoran Milanović in Zagreb on Tuesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda called on Croatia to increase the number of its troops in NATO’s mission in Poland and offered his country’s assistance to Croatia’s border police in combating illegal migration. URL: https://www.hina.hr/news/11925771

Total Croatia

Croatia Issues Highest Number of Work Permits to Nepali Citizens

Summary: The pool of foreign labour from neighbouring countries is drying up, and Croatia has issued the highest number of stay and work permits to Nepali citizens. As Poslovni Dnevnik/Jadranka Dozan writes, the typical seasonal nature of the Croatian employment has long since taken hold. URL: https://total-croatia-news.com/news/croatia-work-permits-nepali-citizens/

The Dubrovnik Times

“​Local Croatian Election Nominations Begin: Key Deadlines and Guidelines”
Summary: The nomination process for local elections in Croatia has commenced, with political parties and voters invited to submit candidate lists by the specified deadlines. URL: https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/news/croatia/item/17808-local-croatian-election-nominations-begin-key-deadlines-and-guidelines

Pristina Post

“EBR​D Supports Small Businesses in Kosovo”
Summary: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is bolstering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kosovo by extending a loan to Raiffeisen Bank, aiming to stimulate economic growth. URL: pristinapost.com

KosovoPress

“​Kurti Resigns from the Post of Prime Minister”
Summary: Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has resigned to pave the way for the swearing-in of members of the ninth legislature of the Assembly of Kosovo, submitting his resignation to the acting Speaker. URL: Kosova Press

UNMIK

Modernizing Courts for Enabling Equal Access to Justice

Summary: UNMIK, UNDP, and the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) teams recently inaugurated a newly modernized court archive at the Basic Court of Gjakova/Đakovica, marking a step in Kosovo’s judicial reform. The launch event gathered various officials and stakeholders actively involved in advancing rule of law in Kosovo. URL: https://unmik.unmissions.org/modernizing-courts-enabling-equal-access-justice

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

EU Looks to Tighten Visa Rules: 61 Countries Face Visa-Free Travel Overhaul

Summary: The European Union looks set to sharpen its visa suspension mechanism later this year, making it easier for Brussels to revoke visa-free travel for citizens of the 61 countries that currently enjoy it — including all the EU hopefuls in the Western Balkans, as well as Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. URL: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-visa-suspension-mechanism-tightened-2025/33385948.html

Government of Montenegro

“Dep​uty Prime Minister Ivanović Opens Montenegro’s Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka”
Summary: Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Filip Ivanović, officially inaugurated Montenegro’s National Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, showcasing the country’s culture and investment opportunities. URL: https://www.gov.me/en/article/deputy-prime-minister-ivanovic-officially-opens-montenegros-pavilion-at-expo-2025-in-osaka

Vijesti.me

Mattarella: We already consider Montenegro a member of the European Union

Summary: “For us, European integration is not a goal in itself, but a transformative process that makes our society more orderly and resilient. We are capable of responding to all challenges,” Spajić emphasized. URL: https://en.vijesti.me/news-b/politika/754654/Mattarella%3A-We-already-consider-Montenegro-as-a-member-of-the-European-Union

CDM (Cafe del Montenegro)

We won’t enter the EU in 2028. When they wanted to take us, the enemies, alas, didn’t let us

Summary: We won’t enter the EU in 2028. It’s become clear since they started mentioning 2028 as the “year of the entry”. Every unprincipled coalition, every disgusting act, every humiliation, literally everything was justified with “entering the EU in 2028”. URL: https://www.cdm.me/english/we-wont-enter-the-eu-in-2028-when-they-wanted-to-take-us-the-enemies-alas-didnt-let-us/

Macedonian Information Agency

Mucunski meets UAE FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Summary: As part of an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski met Tuesday with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.  URL: https://mia.mk/en/story/mucunski-meets-uae-fm-sheikh-abdullah-bin-zayed-al-nahyan

Republika

“Dim​itrieska: Macedonia Can Begin Direct Exports to the US”
Summary: Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska – Kocoska announced that Macedonia is positioned to start direct exports to the United States, following favorable trade discussions. URL: https://english.republika.mk/economy/dimitrieska-macedonia-can-begin-direct-exports-to-the-us/

Radio Free Europe

US Lifts Sanctions Against Member Of Orban’s Cabinet

Summary: The United States on April 15 lifted sanctions imposed in January on the head of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s cabinet, Antal Rogan, over accusations of corruption and cronyism. URL: https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-orban-rogan-rubio-sanctions-lifted/33386511.html

Tanjug

Macut: Our foreign policy must be brave, consistent, European future the best response

BELGRADE – Serbia’s PM-Designate Djuro Macut said in the parliament on Tuesday that, in the international arena, he saw Serbia as a bridge, an initiator and a partner, a country that believed an European future was the best response to a stable, modern and just Balkans, as well as a country shaping that response it its own way – openly, independently and proudly. URL: https://www.tanjug.rs/english/politics/155062/macut-our-foreign-policy-must-be-brave-consistent-european-future-the-best-response/vest

B92

“The EU Council confirmed the need for the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina”
Summary: The European Union Council reiterated the importance of normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo, urging both parties to continue dialogue and implement previous agreements. URL: https://www.b92.net/english/politics/121156/the-eu-council-confirmed-the-need-for-the-normalization-of-relations-between-belgrade-and-pristina/vest

Serbian Monitor

“The​se are the new ministers in the Government of Serbia”
Summary: A detailed overview of the newly appointed ministers in Serbia’s government, highlighting their backgrounds and the portfolios they will manage. URL: https://www.serbianmonitor.com/en/these-are-the-new-ministers-in-the-government-of-serbia/

Slovenian Press Agency

“National Assembly Rejects Constitutional Amendments Involving Top Court”
Summary: The Slovenian National Assembly declined a government-backed proposal to initiate constitutional amendments that would grant the Constitutional Court discretionary power in selecting cases. The proposal lacked sufficient support in the parliamentary Constitutional Commission. URL: STA Article

Slovenia Times

Switzerland to Fund Sustainable Energy Projects in Slovenia

Summary: Slovenia will receive 16 million Swiss francs over ten years for sustainable energy projects as part of the Second Swiss Contribution, aiming to support climate change mitigation efforts. URL: The Slovenia Times