Von der Leyen urges law changes as presidential deadline nears
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Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Pristina with a list of priorities: amending the law on the Special Envoy and electing a new president. The European Commission President suggested that dialogue between the parties now seems possible, though the PDK is busy pressuring for changes to the Special Court law instead. Prime Minister Albin Kurti remains cautious as the deadline to elect a president is approaching.
The streets provided a louder argument against the status quo. What has been described as the largest pan-Albanian protest to date saw the children of martyrs hand a draft law to the government, a direct response to recent Hague tribunal verdicts. The European Union noted that peaceful protest is a fundamental right following the demonstrations.
On the pitch, the national football team secured a draw against Israel in a match moved to Hungary. In trade, the 'Made in Kosovo' initiative recorded its first export, a small opening act for a free trade agreement with EFTA countries that is not scheduled to take full effect until October 2026.