AGP Executive Report

Kosovo Assembly: Albuljena Hadjiju was elected president of the Kosovo Assembly with 62 votes, clearing a key step after a long institutional blockade and setting up the next leadership moves for forming new parliament institutions. Hospitality & Investment: TGI Fridays signed a landmark development deal with Devolli Group to expand into Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, with Devolli set to open 10 restaurants and secure sub-franchise rights across the territory. Telecom (Kosovo): Kosovo’s telecom revenue rose in Q2, driven by the mobile sector, according to the latest local reporting. Regional Politics (Serbia–EU): Serbia’s EU path faces fresh scrutiny after the state-backed funeral of Ratko Mladić, with Brussels questioning how EU membership can coexist with honoring a convicted war criminal. Kosovo in the wider region: Albania says social media platforms must protect media and public-interest accounts from coordinated manipulation, highlighting ongoing digital governance pressure across the Balkans. International Business: Serbia and Uzbekistan discussed boosting trade and investment, including plans for Serbia’s embassy opening in Uzbekistan and business forums to deepen economic ties.

TGI Fridays Expansion: TGI Fridays™ has signed a landmark development deal with Devolli Group for its first-ever rollout in Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, with Devolli set to open 10 restaurants and hold exclusive sub-franchise rights across the territory. Parliament Leadership: Kosovo’s Assembly elected Aljbuljena Hadjiju as president of the Assembly with 62 votes, a key step to unblock the constitution process and move toward forming new institutions. Kosovo Economy Watch: A new labor productivity snapshot for the Western Balkans shows Albania at the bottom and Serbia mid-pack, while Kosovo lacks comparable ILO figures in the series; World Bank data points to weaker productivity growth alongside economic expansion. EU & Regional Politics: Serbia’s EU path faces fresh scrutiny after the state-backed funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić drew shock in Brussels, reigniting questions about rule-of-law commitments. Foreign Policy & Trade Links: Serbia’s FM Marko Đurić met Uzbekistan’s counterpart in Belgrade, highlighting embassy plans and calling for business forums to boost trade and investment. Media Freedom: SafeJournalists warns of ongoing social-media enforcement problems in Albania affecting media and public-interest accounts, after Meta said some restrictions were incorrect.

Kosovo Business & Trade: TGI Fridays is moving into Kosovo for the first time, signing a development deal with Devolli Group to open 10 restaurants across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, with exclusive sub-franchise rights and a wider Balkans rollout plan. Energy & Workplace Safety: Kosovo’s state energy firm KEK is facing renewed scrutiny after a worker died from an electric shock, the fourth fatality at the company in 2026, prompting calls for updated risk assessments and stronger safety enforcement. Labor Productivity: New ILO data highlights a productivity gap across the Western Balkans, with Kosovo lacking comparable figures in the series but World Bank analysis pointing to declining labor productivity in recent years despite economic growth. Business/Finance Signals: A reported market valuation of €100,000 is attached to Kosovo-linked defender Jamal Arago as speculation grows about a potential move from Libya’s Al-Ta’awon to India’s Samaleswari SC (deal unconfirmed). Legal/Politics Spillover: A former Pristina political commentator, Fatmir Sheholli, pleaded not guilty in a Kosovo court case over alleged espionage and blackmail for Serbia’s BIA, with claims tied to information about Kosovo institutions and security.

TGI Fridays Expansion: TGI Fridays has signed a landmark development deal with Devolli Group for its first-ever expansion into Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, with Devolli set to open 10 restaurants across the three markets and secure exclusive sub-franchise rights for long-term growth in Southeast Europe. Workplace Safety at KEK: Kosovo’s state power company KEK is facing renewed scrutiny after a fatal workplace accident—a worker died after contact with a 6-kilovolt cable that had not been switched off—marking the fourth KEK death in 2026 and raising concerns about outdated risk assessments and protective equipment. Kosovo Telecom Performance: Kosovo’s telecom revenue rose in Q2, driven by the mobile sector, according to the latest reporting. Labor Productivity Challenge: A new ILO-based comparison highlights that labor productivity remains a major Western Balkans problem, with Kosovo lacking direct ILO figures in the series but World Bank data showing productivity declines in recent years. Kosovo Court Case: Former Pristina political commentator Fatmir Sheholli pleaded not guilty to espionage and blackmail allegations tied to Serbia’s BIA, in a pre-trial hearing at the Pristina Basic Court.

TGI Fridays Expansion: TGI Fridays™ has signed a development deal with Devolli Group to bring the brand to Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia—another signal of fresh hospitality investment in the region. Energy & Jobs Safety: Kosovo’s state energy firm KEK is under renewed scrutiny after a fatal workplace accident—its fourth death in 2026—highlighting gaps in risk assessments and safety procedures. Telecom Performance: Kosovo telecom revenue rose in Q2, driven by the mobile sector, pointing to continued demand for connectivity. Labor Productivity Challenge: An ILO comparison shows Western Balkan productivity pressure, with Albania at the bottom and Serbia mid-pack; Kosovo lacks direct figures but related World Bank trends suggest productivity hasn’t kept pace with growth. Media Freedom & Platforms: SafeJournalists says Meta restrictions are hitting Albanian media accounts, with Euronews Albania and Citizens.al reporting sudden access problems. Regional Energy Projects (Albania): Albania’s Moglica pumped-storage expansion and a new 400 kV Albania–Kosova interconnection are among projects seeking Energy Community status, aiming for faster financing and EU support. Business & Growth Marketing: The Diamond League tapped Two Circles to boost commercial growth via content, digital engagement and brand strategy.

Labor Productivity Watch: ILO data shows Western Balkans productivity gaps persist, with Albania at the bottom and Montenegro on top; Serbia sits mid-pack, while Kosovo is not covered in the same series—though World Bank figures point to declining productivity in Kosovo in recent years. Workplace Safety at KEK: A fatal electric shock at Kosovo’s state-owned energy firm KEK has triggered renewed safety inspections, with unions warning of outdated risk assessments, weak protective gear and management pressure after four KEK deaths in 2026 so far. Court Case in Pristina: Former commentator Fatmir Sheholli pleaded not guilty to alleged espionage and blackmail for Serbia’s BIA, with the indictment citing information-sharing on Kosovo institutions and security. Media Freedom in Albania (Regional): SafeJournalists says Meta restrictions and account-access problems are growing in Albania, including sudden loss of access to major media and civic pages. Energy & Grid Plans (Regional): Albania is set to benefit from Energy Community “projects of interest” rules, including Moglica pumped-storage expansion and a new 400 kV Albania–Kosova interconnection. Business & Crime (Regional): Albania police report an alleged €5m extortion plot tied to a hotel owner in Vlorë, with arrests after threats and a vehicle incident.

Court & Security: Former Pristina political commentator Fatmir Sheholli pleaded not guilty to alleged espionage and blackmail for Serbia’s BIA, with prosecutors saying he passed information on Kosovo’s institutions, politics and security. Workplace Safety: KEK faced fresh scrutiny after a 32-year-old worker died from an electric shock while power was reportedly not switched off; a KEK engineer was arrested and unions cite outdated risk assessments and weak protective measures. Media Freedom: SafeJournalists says Albania is entering a new phase as AGSH becomes a full member, while it also warns of unexplained Meta restrictions hitting media and public-interest accounts. Kosovo Telecom: Kosovo’s telecom sector earned EUR 48.6m in Q2 2026, up year-on-year, led by mobile services. Energy Projects (Regional): Albania is set to advance major energy investments under the Energy Community framework, including a Moglica pumped-storage expansion and a new 400 kV Albania–Kosova interconnection. Kosovo-Serbia Property Dispute: Serbia’s Kosovo office alleges Pristina continued unlawful demolitions of Serb-owned properties near Gazivode Lake and blocked media access. Business & Crime (Albania): A Vlorë hotel owner reported a €5m extortion demand after an armed attack; arrests followed across multiple counties.

Kosovo Telecom Watch: Kosovo’s telecom sector pulled in EUR 48.6m revenue in Q2 2026, up 9.8% quarter-on-quarter and 7.4% year-on-year, with mobile driving most of the gain (EUR 35.8m, +10.3% annually) and internet adding EUR 12.2m (+1.5%). Energy & Regional Grids: Albania is pushing three projects into the Energy Community’s “projects of interest” pipeline, including Moglica pumped-storage expansion (about €1.79bn, 1,620 MW, ~30 GWh), a new 400 kV Albania–Kosova interconnection, and upgrades to 220 kV lines linking the region. Kosovo Property Dispute: Serbia’s Kosovo-Metohija office alleges Pristina continued forcible demolitions of Serb-owned properties at Gazivode Lake and says media access was blocked during the actions. Albania Crime & Business Risk: In Vlorë, police report an alleged €5m extortion plot tied to a hotel owner, with arrests after a Range Rover incident and firearms-related findings. Digital Economy & Media: SafeJournalists says Meta restrictions are disrupting media and public-interest accounts in Albania, including Euronews Albania and Citizens.al.

Kosovo Telecom Update: Kosovo’s telecom sector brought in EUR 48.6m revenue in Q2 2026, up 9.8% quarter-on-quarter and 7.4% year-on-year, with mobile services driving most of the growth (EUR 35.8m). Energy & Grid Planning: Albania is pushing three Energy Community “projects of interest” forward, including Moglica pumped-storage expansion and a new 400 kV Albania–Kosova interconnection, aiming for EU-backed financing and top regional priority. Media Freedom Watch: SafeJournalists says Meta is restricting access to media and public-interest accounts in Albania, citing Euronews Albania and Citizens.al losing access without clear explanations. Security & Business Risk: An Albanian hotel owner in Vlorë alleges a €5m extortion demand after an armed attack, with arrests including a Kosovo citizen. Digital Economy: A new study from researchers including the University of Pristina targets click fraud using recurrent neural networks tuned with modified metaheuristics. Property Dispute: Serbia’s Kosovo-Metohija office claims Pristina continued unlawful demolitions of Serb-owned properties near Gazivode Lake, blocking media access during the operations. Kosovo in the News: A US immigrant visa policy update lists Kosovo among affected nationalities, with a court ruling lifting a suspension.

Telecom Growth in Kosovo: Kosovo’s telecom sector brought in EUR 48.6m revenue in Q2 2026, up 9.8% quarter-on-quarter and 7.4% year-on-year, with mobile driving most of the gains (EUR 35.8m, +10.3% annually) and internet adding EUR 12.2m (+1.5%). Energy & Cross-Border Power: Albania is pushing three major projects into the Energy Community’s “projects of interest” list, including Moglica pumped-storage expansion (about €1.79bn, 1,620 MW), a new 400 kV Albania–Kosova interconnection, and rehabilitation of 220 kV lines linking the region. Property & Rule of Law: Serbia’s Kosovo-Metohija office alleges Pristina continued unlawful demolitions of Serb-owned properties around Gazivode Lake, citing blocked access and confiscations tied to “Trepca.” Kosovo in the Swiss Outsourcing Debate: A Swiss union petition targets Swiss Post and Swisscom outsourcing, noting they have opened offices in Kosovo while transferring jobs abroad. Regional Diplomacy with Economic Angle: Serbia’s Marko Đurić met Guinea-Bissau and Ghana counterparts, stressing the need to turn political ties into stronger economic cooperation.

Kosovo Telecom Watch: Kosovo’s telecom sector pulled in EUR 48.6m in Q2 2026, up 9.8% quarter-on-quarter and 7.4% year-on-year, with mobile driving most revenue (EUR 35.8m, +10.3% annually) and internet adding EUR 12.2m (+1.5%). EU Funding & Reform Push: The new EU ambassador to Kosovo, Dirk Schübel, says there’s a “window of opportunity” to speed up institution-building, European reforms, and progress in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, urging Kosovo to use Growth Plan and upcoming IPA funds. Energy Projects (Regional Impact): Albania is in the running for major Energy Community-linked investments, including the Moglica pumped-storage expansion, a new 400 kV Albania–Kosova interconnection, and upgrades to key 220 kV lines—potentially unlocking EU-linked financing and priority status. Property & Rule-of-Law Tensions: Serbia’s Kosovo-Metohija office alleges Pristina continued “unlawful” demolitions of Serb-owned properties around Gazivode Lake, with claims of blocked access for media and calls for international action.

Kosovo Telecom Growth: Kosovo’s telecom sector generated EUR 48.6m in Q2 2026, up 9.8% quarter-on-quarter and 7.4% year-on-year, with mobile driving most revenue (EUR 35.8m, +10.3% annually) and internet adding EUR 12.2m (+1.5%). EU Energy Pipeline for Albania/Kosovo Region: New Energy Community rules put three Albania-linked projects on the priority list, including Moglica pumped-storage (about €1.79bn, 1,620 MW, start 2027, commissioning 2033) and a new 400 kV Albania–Kosova interconnection, plus upgrades to regional 220 kV lines. EU Integration Push in Pristina: The new EU ambassador, Dirk Schübel, says Kosovo has a “window of opportunity” to speed up institution-building, reforms, and use of Growth Plan and IPA funds, while keeping the Belgrade–Pristina Dialogue moving. Property Dispute Escalation: Serbia’s Kosovo-Metohija office claims Pristina continued “unlawful” demolitions of Serb-owned properties around Gazivode Lake and blocked media access via armored deployments. Regional Business Crime in Albania: Albanian police report a €5m extortion case tied to a hotel owner in Vlorë, with arrests including a Kosovo citizen, after alleged threats with firearms.

Kosovo Telecom Watch: Kosovo’s telecom sector earned EUR 48.6m in Q2 2026, up 9.8% quarter-on-quarter and 7.4% year-on-year, with mobile driving most revenue (EUR 35.8m, +10.3% annually) and internet adding EUR 12.2m (+1.5%). EU Integration & Governance: New EU ambassador Dirk Schübel took office in Pristina, urging faster institution-building, European reforms, and continued Belgrade–Pristina Dialogue, while pushing Kosovo to use Growth Plan and upcoming IPA funds. Kosovo in the Region’s Business Orbit: Kosovo’s name also appears in a US immigrant visa policy update—an August court ruling lifted a suspension affecting nationals of 75 countries, including Kosovo. Sports & Investment (Not Kosovo, but business angle): London City Lionesses’ billionaire-backed push for Champions League football highlights how big capital is reshaping women’s leagues.

Kosovo Telecom Watch: Kosovo’s telecom sector brought in EUR 48.6 million in Q2 2026, up 9.8% quarter-on-quarter and 7.4% year-on-year, with mobile services driving most revenue (EUR 35.8m, +10.3% annually) and internet adding EUR 12.2m (+1.5%). Energy Market Infrastructure: ALPEX (Albanian Electricity Exchange) signed a Lek 284.65m (about EUR 2.97m) deal for electronic trading and clearing platforms to connect the Albania–Kosovo electricity markets, supporting day-ahead and intraday trading and integration with European interconnection solutions. EU Integration Momentum: Kosovo’s new EU ambassador, Dirk Schübel, took office and flagged a “window of opportunity” for faster institution-building, European reforms, and use of the Growth Plan and upcoming IPA funds, with renewed focus on the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue. Sports Business Transfer Rumor: Juventus set a €15m minimum price for Kosovo winger Edon Zhegrova, with Al-Ittihad reportedly making initial enquiries about his availability and valuation. Regional Diplomacy With Economic Angle: Serbia’s foreign ministry says it is pushing stronger economic ties with São Tomé and Príncipe, especially tourism, after the defence minister’s visit.

EU Integration Push in Pristina: Dirk Schübel, the new EU ambassador to Kosovo, says Kosovo has a “window of opportunity” to speed up institution-building, European reforms and the Belgrade–Pristina Dialogue, urging use of Growth Plan and upcoming IPA funds. Energy Market Deal: Albania’s electricity exchange ALPEX signed a contract worth about €2.97m (Lek 284.65m) for electronic trading and clearing platforms for Albania–Kosovo markets, with integration for day-ahead and intraday trading. Kosovo in Global Culture: Kosovo will debut at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (Sept 13–18), joining seven first-time countries and adding momentum to the event’s “knowledge economy” agenda. Regional Business & Mobility: A new report highlights how coach travel is rebounding across Europe, with the IRU pointing to affordability, access to smaller towns and relatively efficient emissions per passenger. US Visa Policy Update (Kosovo Listed): A US federal judge struck down the immigrant visa suspension for nationals of 75 countries, including Kosovo, lifting the pause from Aug 21.

EU Integration & Institutions: Kosovo’s new EU ambassador Dirk Schübel says there’s a “window of opportunity” ahead, pushing for faster institution-building, EU reforms, and continued support for the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue, with a focus on using the Growth Plan and upcoming IPA funds. Energy Market Infrastructure: Albania’s electricity exchange ALPEX signed an about €2.97m deal for electronic trading and clearing platforms to connect Albania–Kosovo electricity markets, supporting day-ahead and intraday trading and interconnection with European solutions. Kosovo in Global Knowledge Economy: Kosovo will debut at the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (Sept 13–18, 2026), joining six other new countries and highlighting culture and knowledge as part of the “knowledge economy” agenda. Regional Security Operations: KFOR RC-East aviation support continues after a transfer of authority at Camp Bondsteel, with the Colorado Army National Guard rotating its mission to a new battalion to maintain rotary-wing capabilities for transport and medevac. Business & Trade Links: Serbia’s diplomacy push toward Africa includes talks with Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Tanzania and Burundi, with officials stressing that political ties should translate into stronger economic cooperation—especially tourism and agriculture.