—🇦🇱/🇺🇸 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

—🇷🇸/🇺🇸 NEW: The Presidential Palace in Banja Luka, the capital of the Republic of Srpska, was illuminated this evening with America’s 250th Anniversary Flag featuring President Donald Trump.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇽🇰/🇺🇸 WATCH: A Kosovo imam at his mosque in Pristina raised the United States flag alongside the Kosovan flag today to honor US Independence Day.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇮🇷 WATCH: A massive funeral procession and memorial ceremony are underway in Tehran to honor Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following his killing.

➡️ The main ceremony is being held at the Imam Khomeini Mosque, drawing official state delegations from nearly 100 countries as a massive public procession moves through the streets of the Iranian capital.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—❗️🇧🇬/🇮🇷 Bulgarian nationalist MPs travel to Tehran for Khamenei’s funeral

➡️ Bulgaria’s far-right Vazrazhdane (Revival) party has dispatched members of parliament Angel Georgiev and Zlatan Zlatanov to Tehran to attend the state funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

➡️ Party leader Kostadin Kostadinov praised the invitation as a distinct "honour," claiming his representatives were the only European politicians present at the mourning ceremonies in the Iranian capital.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🪖🇭🇷⚡️🇷🇸 Croatia to upgrade Rafale fleet to match upcoming Serbian jets

➡️ The Croatian Ministry of Defense is launching a three-year modernization program to upgrade 10 of its second-hand Rafale fighter jets to the latest F4.1 standard.

➡️ The tactical upgrade will outfit the fleet with next-generation infrared missile approach warning systems (DDM-NG), Front Sector Optronics (OSF), and Scorpion helmet-mounted displays for pilots.

➡️ The modernization is a direct response to neighbor Serbia's upcoming acquisition of 12 brand-new, factory-standard Rafale jets, allowing Zagreb to preserve the regional military balance by ensuring its fleet matches the capabilities of Belgrade's future aircraft.

🔗 VIHOR

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English