—🇪🇺/🇽🇰 NEW: European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has described recent developments regarding the five EU member states that do not recognize Kosovo as "encouraging."

➡️ Speaking before the European Parliament, Kos indicated a shifting landscape among the non-recognizers—Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, and Romania.

➡️ All five countries already accept Kosovo-issued passports, and while they have not officially recognized its 2008 declaration, the EU is reportedly following progress toward normalization with Pristina.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

#NEWS | 🇫🇷 🇬🇷 — French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Athens on April 24–25 to renew the Greece-France bilateral defense and security agreement for another five years, with provisions for automatic extension.

The 2021 pact includes mutual defense commitments and has facilitated Greece’s acquisition of three French frigates and approximately 24 Dassault Rafale fighter jets. Discussions are also expected to cover maritime security and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

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🇭🇺❌🟨 Hungary's new PM accused Viktor Orban of betrayal against Hungarians for supporting George Simion in the presidential elections.

"Orban betrayed the his country and the Hungarians that live abroad, the Hungarians of Transylvania when he supported the presidential candidate George Simion in Romania."

@Wallachian_Gazette

—🇸🇮 NEW: Robert Golob, leader of the Freedom Movement, has failed to form a new government in Slovenia, leaving Janez Janša and his SDS party with a clear path to power.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇽🇰/🇬🇷 NEW: Kosovo PM Albin Kurti hosted Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias for a working breakfast in Pristina to discuss regional security and bilateral cooperation.

➡️ Although Greece remains one of the five EU member states that does not officially recognize Kosovo's independence, the high-level visit signals a continued deepening of functional cooperation.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🪖🇽🇰/🇵🇸 NEW: Kosovo’s parliament has approved the deployment of a Kosovo Security Force (KSF) contingent to Gaza as part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF).

➡️ The proposal passed with a required two-thirds majority, marking a significant step in Pristina’s efforts to increase its participation in international peacekeeping missions.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇽🇰/🇺🇸 NEW: The US State Department has notified the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of a license to export firearms and components to Kosovo.

➡️ The formal notification indicates the transaction is valued at $1 million or more, the threshold required for such legislative reporting.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—NOTE: This latest acquisition follows a series of defense agreements between Pristina and Washington aimed at modernizing the Kosovo Security Force (KSF).

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇦🇱❌🇮🇷 NEW: In a recent address, Albanian PM Edi Rama stated, “If hell exists, I hope Khamenei rots in it,” adding that Albania is “not afraid” of Tehran’s threats.

➡️ This escalation in rhetoric follows years of strained relations between the two nations, which reached a breaking point in 2022 when Albania severed diplomatic ties with Iran over a massive state-sponsored cyberattack.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇸/🇧🇬 NEW: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has congratulated Rumen Radev on his success in Bulgaria’s parliamentary elections, expressing confidence in the continued strengthening of bilateral cooperation.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇺/🇷🇸 NEW: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has arrived in the Republic of Srpska for an official visit to meet with the entity’s leadership, including President Siniša Karan.

➡️ The talks will focus on the further expansion of bilateral relations and the development of potential economic projects.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

— 🇷🇸📞🇭🇺 NEW: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has congratulated Péter Magyar on his electoral victory following a "substantive" conversation regarding the future of Serbia-Hungary relations.

➡️ The two leaders discussed key energy issues, supply security, and regional connectivity. Vučić also addressed the status of ethnic minorities in both countries and Serbia’s EU path, while extending an official invitation for Magyar to visit Belgrade.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇸/🇪🇸 NEW: Serbia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Spanish company Ingerop T3 S.L.U. for system integration on the first line of the Belgrade Metro.

➡️ The Spanish partner will coordinate and integrate all key technical systems—including infrastructure, signaling, communications, and safety—to ensure the project meets the highest international standards.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—❗️🇮🇷❌🇬🇷 URGENT: Greek FM has confirmed that a Greek-owned cargo ship was attacked by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) while transiting the Strait of Hormuz today.

➡️ The vessel, identified as the Liberian-flagged Epaminondas, sustained "heavy damage" to its bridge and navigation systems after being fired upon by an IRGC gunboat without prior warning.

➡️ While Tehran claims to have seized the vessel for "maritime violations," Athens and the ship’s management have denied the reports of seizure, confirming that all 21 crew members are safe and the captain remains in control of the ship.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇸 (🇧🇦) /🇬🇷 NEW: Željka Cvijanović, the Serb member of the BiH Presidency, has criticized Bosnia and Herzegovina’s governance during an official visit to Greece, describing the country as a "colonial structure."

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇧🇦/🇭🇷 NEW: An agreement to connect the gas networks of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia via the Southern Interconnection is set to be signed next week in Dubrovnik.

➡️ The project will allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the terminal on Krk, significantly reducing its heavy dependence on Russian gas supplied through Serbia.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English