Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said he intends to swiftly form a new government after preliminary results showed his party on track to comfortably win yesterday’s early parliamentary election.

After nearly a year of political paralysis, Kosovo returns to the polls on Sunday in a vote that could determine if the country makes progress on its stalled path toward the European Union.

Albania is facing a mounting political crisis after its deputy prime minister was indicted. It reached its tipping point yesterday after Molotov cocktails were hurled at PM Edi Rama’s office.

The removal of a prominent TV show host in Bulgaria has sparked a backlash, reigniting concerns about political pressure on the media amid the collapse of the country’s government.

I interviewed Albanian PM Edi Rama on Wednesday on the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans Summit. Rama says Albania won't continue with the TikTok ban next year. More here in my article for @politico.eu www.politico.eu/article/alba...

Albania won't extend its year-long ban on TikTok, Prime Minister Edi Rama told POLITICO.

Czechia’s new interim environment minister, Petr Macinka, scrapped the ministry's climate protection section, saying the department needs to be “de-ideologized."

Serbia will be absent when EU leaders meet their Western Balkan counterparts this evening to discuss enlargement after President Aleksandar Vučić said late yesterday that his country would not attend.

The European Commission has sparked a dispute between rival environmental camps by announcing it will sacrifice nature protection laws to speed up the rollout of clean electricity networks.

🚨 Up next on the chopping block are waste management and industrial emissions rules as the EU continues to loosen environmental rules that businesses don't like. w/ @leonieacater.bsky.social and @jakobweizman.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/brus...

Tune in to our #POLITICOSustainableSummit tomorrow to follow our engaging discussion on the challenges facing the European chemicals industry. I’m delighted to moderate a panel featuring key voices that will map out what is a crucial moment for the ‘industry of industries.’

Europe wants to revitalize its chemical industry and become more competitive on the global stage. But will that come at a price to the environment? That’s what reporter Jakob Weizman will explore at our #POLITICOSustainableSummit 👇 Register to watch live: www.politico.eu/sustainable-...

A race car driver, a climate change denier, and a former rockstar all walk into a bar.... Here's our story on ministerial picks Babiš submitted yesterday to President Pavel 👇

Kosovo is heading for a snap election after parties failed to form a governing majority yesterday, prompting the dissolution of parliament.

My latest on Kosovo's political situation here 👇

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered pointed remarks today to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić about his country’s progress toward EU membership.

The US has shared a proposed text of a joint statement enshrining its outline trade deal with the EU, the Commission said on Thursday, indicating that the political agreement is inching closer to reality.

After the EU found Israel to be in breach of its human rights obligations under their trade deal, tensions are running high over what economic steps the bloc can now take at a time of extreme tension in the Middle East. w/ @jakobweizman.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/eu-g...

After the EU found Israel to be in breach of its human rights obligations under their trade deal, tensions are running high over what economic steps the bloc can now take at a time of extreme tension in the Middle East. w/ @jakobweizman.bsky.social pro.politico.eu/news/200779

Read my story with @jakobweizman.bsky.social about what the EU and 12-nation CPTPP could do together to challenge Trump. www.politico.eu/article/dona...

As Trump’s trade war smashes the economic order, the EU is increasingly thinking that joining forces with the Indo-Pacific trade bloc CPTPP might be the best plan B.

The U.S. makes up 13% of global trade — and the EU is setting its sights beyond that. Read my explainer for @politico.eu here 👇

Donald Trump is turning his back on free trade and, with it, the €1.6 trillion transatlantic trade relationship. That's motivating the European Union to do trade deals with just about everyone else.

The EU wants Serbia’s lithium to power its green transition and reduce Chinese dependence. But people in Serbia won’t go down without a fight. Read our investigation into the controversial Jadar project👇🏻

The EU placed a strategic bet on Serbian lithium to fuel its shift to electric vehicles. But it's resulted in dirty politics and an environmental backlash so severe it is poisoning the Balkan nation’s relations with Brussels.

Trump blinked — and we had to re-record Politico’s EU Confidential podcast. Here’s Take 2 — with Josh Lipsky of the Atlantic Council and Sarah Wheaton hosting. Thanks for having me on the show! @politico.eu open.spotify.com/episode/71xd...

Looks like we've got ourselves a trade war! Stellar (and quick) reporting from @camgijs.bsky.social and @koenverhelst.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/eu-t...

If all is hostile, turn friendly: EU offers Donald Trump to slash all tariffs on industrial goods. www.politico.eu/article/eu-o... w/ fresh reporting from Luxembourg by @camgijs.bsky.social @jakobweizman.bsky.social and data via @gi-coi.bsky.social

We spoke with Czechia's foreign minister on what comes next in the EU's response to Trump's tariffs. Could American gas still be on the table? Read more here 👇 With @gabrielgavin.bsky.social

The EU should encourage U.S. President Donald Trump to reverse trade tariffs by buying more American gas, while simultaneously threatening penalties of its own, Czechia's top diplomat said.

If you, too, want to make up your own reciprocal tariffs to charge friends, family and foreign countries, all you need is simple maths and a calculator. Yes, that's precisely how the Trump administration has just upended world trade. with Jakob Weizman on @politico.eu

And about those maths... James Surowiecki challenges the White House’s rationale for punishing Europe, China, India and Japan with reciprocal tariffs. Story by @jakobweizman.bsky.social and @gi-coi.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/dona...

Stark signal by EU Commission boss von der Leyen on the eve of 'Liberation Day.' “Europe holds a lot of cards. From trade to technology, to the size of our market... All instruments are on the table.” This is how the EU plans to hit back against Trump's tariffs 👇 www.politico.eu/article/eu-t...

An eye for an eye. That's in essence the playbook the EU should follow in responding to Trump’s tariff war, Belgium’s new EU and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot told us. Tech would bring "greatest sensitivity and responsiveness" from US. W/ @pieterhaeck.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/belg...

Donald Trump repeated that the United States will annex Greenland, while cheering the Arctic island’s election result.

On the EU’s tariff hit list: American chicken wings, motorbikes and … women’s négligées? www.politico.eu/article/on-t...

My latest for @politico.eu on Greenland's election results- and what it means for the Artic island's future.

Greenland had a message for Donald Trump as islanders went to the polls this week: thanks, but no thanks. The US president’s repeated noises about acquiring the vast Arctic island were rejected at the ballot box, as a party that denounced Trump’s ambitions came out on top.

🚨 BREAKING: The European Union hit back hard as US President Donald Trump imposed 25 percent global steel and aluminum tariffs today, announcing a two-stage retaliation covering €26 billion in EU exports. Full story: www.politico.eu/article/eu-t...

I am delighted to lead my first Morning Trade newsletter for @politico.eu. Tariffs (again), India, and a U.S-Ukraine deal- read all about it: pro.politico.eu/news/194705 Feel free to reach out for a ☕️and chat about all things trade!

Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's far-right AfD party, claimed in early February that her party was attracting Jewish members in the “four-digit range.” Is it true? We unpack. 👉 www.politico.eu/article/germ...

Is Germany's far right really attracting Jewish voters? Read our investigation here 👇 @politico.eu www.politico.eu/article/germ...

Is Germany’s far right really attracting Jewish voters? A good question, very well answered by the talented @jakobweizman.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/germ...

Upon the renewal of a bilateral trade deal with Mexico that had been years in the making, the European Commission took a victory lap. But for Mexico, there was no reason to shout news of the accord from the rooftops.

My latest for @politico.eu on the EU-Mexico trade deal 🇪🇺🇲🇽👇🏻

www.politico.eu/article/grab... Very good explainer + argument that "Grabbing Greenland would be a bad deal for Trump" from @politico.eu and @koenverhelst.bsky.social and Jakob Weizman

Albania’s TikTok ban raises rule of law questions, via @egreechee.bsky.social and Jakob Weizman www.politico.eu/article/alba...