—🇦🇱/🇺🇸 NEW: Plans for Albania’s regional integration and its standing among Euro-Atlantic allies are facing fresh scrutiny due to the country's low defense expenditures.

➡️ Diplomatic sources indicate that despite regional defense plans and agreements, some European Union officials are pushing back against fast-tracking integration processes, arguing that underperforming defense budgets remain a major obstacle.

➡️ The move comes at a sensitive time for the Western Balkans, with Brussels explicitly using economic incentives and growth funding to pressure regional governments into accelerating strict structural, legal, and security upgrades before any deeper institutional compliance can be achieved.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—☦️❗️🇻🇦🇮🇹🇧🇬❌🇪🇺 NEW: Italy has aligned with Bulgaria in raising formal objections to proposed European Union sanctions targeting Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, according to three EU diplomats familiar with the ongoing discussions.

➡️ The measures, which are being considered as part of the bloc's latest penalties against Moscow, would enforce a travel ban and restrict entry to the EU for the religious leader.

➡️ While Bulgaria previously opposed the inclusion due to concerns over interference in religious affairs, diplomats report that Rome's parallel reservations are heavily linked to the Vatican’s diplomatic stance against blacklisting heads of Christian denominations.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇸/🇪🇸 NEW: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic held talks in Belgrade with Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles to discuss strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.

➡️ During the meeting, Vucic expressed his gratitude to Robles for Spain’s consistent stance on respecting international law and its continued non-recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇴/🇪🇺 NEW: Romania has secured €637 million in funding from the European Union to develop energy storage projects across the country.

➡️ The financial package will be used to support the installation of new battery storage systems nationwide, aiming to modernize grid infrastructure and boost national energy capacity.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—❗️🇲🇩 NEW: Moldovan PM Alexandru Munteanu has officially resigned from his position after only eight months in office.

➡️ The prime minister's decision follows the fallout from a major corruption scandal involving the state aviation authority, MoldATSA.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇸/🇪🇺 NEW: "Serbia's next phase of economic policy will prioritize strengthening domestic companies to prepare them for competition in the EU Single Market. The goal is to reduce dependence on foreign direct investment (FDI) and increase the role of Serbian-owned businesses in the country's reindustrialization."

🔗 Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of Serbia

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English