A graduation ceremony for 100 new correctional officers of the Kosovo Correctional Service was held Friday at the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety in Vushtrri.

Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti also attended the event. He said the role of a correctional officer carries great responsibility and requires discipline, integrity, and a commitment to the security, order, and dignity of persons deprived of their liberty.

Kurti told the graduates that, from this moment on, they represent the state and the institution, and must therefore act professionally, in accordance with the law and with dignity under all circumstances. According to him, their authority is measured by the fairness and respect they demonstrate in their work, while the service they provide is both just, because it corrects, and beneficial, because it improves.

Congratulating the 100 cadets on behalf of the Government, the acting prime minister emphasized that Kosovo is building a correctional service that is increasingly valued and respected by international partners.

He noted that the Kosovo Correctional Service is now a member of international organizations, including the European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services – EuroPris and the International Corrections and Prisons Association – ICPA. Kurti added that the institution is steadily earning the trust of partners around the globe, while its experience and practices are gaining recognition both internationally and in the region, where a growing number of countries are using them as a model for improving their own correctional services. According to him, this achievement creates a shared obligation to maintain even higher standards.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to propose expanding Albania’s model for repatriation centers, presenting it as part of the EU’s new policy to strengthen immigration controls.

“Giorgia Meloni is considering proposals ranging from the creation of new Albanian-style repatriation centers to even stricter economic agreements with African countries,” Corriere della Sera wrote today, ahead of the emergency summit in Ceuta convened by the EU for Tuesday.

Yesterday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen received the letter from 22 countries, as well as Sánchez’s letter, and accepted their request for an extraordinary video conference to review the crisis.

Twenty-two countries have embraced Italy’s tougher stance. Only France, along with Spain, did not sign the letter. But Giorgia Meloni now aims to impose a closed-border policy in Europe, even at the cost of suspending Schengen, as well as the Albanian model, involving repatriation centers outside the EU, which is already under consideration by the bloc.

This is one of the demands Italy will present on Tuesday at the meeting of EU interior ministers, convened following the wave of mass migration into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, on the border with Morocco, a situation that has since largely calmed down.

Meloni believes she has the support of Danish Prime Minister and Socialist Mette Frederiksen and hopes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will also join the initiative. Palazzo Chigi and the European Conservatives group are applying strong pressure, as European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner’s cautious stance toward the project has not been well received, even though it is included in the new Migration Pact, which entered into force on June 12.

Rome hopes that developments in Ceuta will accelerate the process and restart negotiations with 12 countries, which were revealed by AFP several months ago.

Preliminary discussions have been held with Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Egypt, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Montenegro and Ethiopia.

Whether the proposal will move forward is expected to become clear as early as tomorrow, during the meeting of EU ambassadors. Media reports say Palazzo Chigi is convinced that a majority supports these ideas.

As evidence, they point to the letter promoted by Meloni and signed yesterday by 22 EU heads of state and government. France is absent from the list of signatories, but Italian government sources do not consider this a problem.

“Most governments share the Italian approach,” they say, adding that French President Emmanuel Macron has never wanted to join the “group of friends” on migration issues, which meets ahead of European summits.

According to Rome’s interpretation, it is France that is isolated in this case.

German Chancellor Merz had also taken a more cautious stance at the height of the crisis in Ceuta, but he signed the letter, which contains more moderate wording following diplomatic negotiations. Sources close to Meloni say there has been no direct contact between the two leaders.

According to the Italian prime minister, the images from Ceuta showed how urgently a European response is needed. She says the letter from the 22 countries is a sign that the Italian position is gaining support from an increasing number of states.

Only one passage in the letter is less critical of Spain, which is not mentioned by name: “Protecting the European Union’s external borders is not the interest of a single country, but a shared responsibility of Europe.”

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According to him, the project covers 3.8 kilometres and has a contractual cost of €6.8 million. The investment is intended to ease traffic and strengthen safety standards along this route.

During work on the ground, several underground-related difficulties have emerged, specifically issues with the water supply network and the lack of a sewage system.

To overcome these obstacles, Basha said consultations are being held and actions are being coordinated with all parties involved, with the aim of building the road to standard and meeting the set deadline. He acknowledged that complications may arise during the process, but assured that they will closely monitor progress and intervene in time to find the appropriate solutions, aiming to complete the works as quickly and to as high a standard as possible.

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According to them, this move reflects the continuity of Belgrade’s efforts to strengthen its military capacities and defense industry.

However, experts underline that this decision alone does not constitute proof of an imminent attack on Kosovo.

As they emphasize, any assessment of the risk must be based on a broader picture, including military movements, political rhetoric, and developments on the ground. For this reason, Kosovo’s institutions are being called on to carry out uninterrupted monitoring and increase strategic vigilance. At the same time, the presence of KFOR and NATO’s commitment are considered decisive elements that reduce the possibility of a military adventure in the region.

According to experts, Kosovo should continue strengthening its security capacities and deepen cooperation with international allies. They assess that the latest developments should not cause panic, but should serve as a warning for greater caution and preparedness.

Racaj: The risk of direct aggression against Kosovo remains low thanks to KFOR and NATO

Security professor Muhamet Racaj says Serbia’s decision to mobilize state and church property for the expansion of military projects should be treated seriously, but without causing panic.

“This decision cannot be seen only as an administrative or infrastructure matter, but as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen Serbia’s military capacities and defense industry,” Racaj said in a statement to “Bota sot”.

According to him, for Kosovo this development carries particular weight because of the geographical proximity, the history of conflicts, and the continued rhetoric coming from Belgrade.

“However, unnecessary alarm should not be created. The expansion of military infrastructure does not automatically mean that Serbia is preparing for a military attack on Kosovo,” he stresses.

Racaj adds that this development should be closely followed by security institutions in Kosovo.

“Any increase in military capacities in the region changes, to a certain extent, the strategic balance and requires continuous assessments by local institutions and international partners,” the professor says.

He assesses that, for the moment, the possibility of direct military aggression against Kosovo remains low.

“This is mainly thanks to the presence of KFOR and NATO’s engagement in preserving stability in Kosovo and the Western Balkans. This mechanism constitutes the biggest obstacle to any military adventure,” Racaj says.

However, the professor draws attention to the fact that Serbia is continuing to invest in increasing its military capacities.

“Belgrade is continuously investing in the modernization of its armed forces, in the expansion of industrial capacities, and in supporting infrastructure. This shows that it aims to increase military power and strategic influence in the region,” he says.

According to Racaj, Kosovo should continue strengthening its defense capacities.

“Kosovo should continue developing its own defense capacities, deepen cooperation with allies, and accelerate Euro-Atlantic integration,” he stresses.

In conclusion, Racaj underlines that Serbia’s decision should not be seen as an immediate threat, but neither should it be ignored.

“It should serve as a signal for strategic vigilance, continuous monitoring, and the further strengthening of security institutions, in full coordination with international partners,” Professor Muhamet Racaj concludes.

Berisha says Serbia’s expansion of military projects affects the security architecture in the region

Security expert Fidair Berisha also assesses that Serbia’s decision to mobilize state and church property for the expansion of military projects should be viewed seriously, but not automatically read as a direct threat to Kosovo.

“I think Serbia’s decision to mobilize state and church property for the expansion of military projects should be treated seriously and monitored closely, but it should not automatically be interpreted as a direct threat to Kosovo,” Berisha says.

According to him, this step shows that Serbia continues to attach importance to strengthening its military capacities.

“This decision shows that Serbia continues to attach importance to strengthening its military capacities, which affects the security architecture in the region. For Kosovo, this is a development of particular importance because of the geographical proximity, the history of tensions, and the ongoing challenges in relations between the two countries,” he says.

In his conversation with “Bota sot”, Berisha stresses that this decision alone cannot be considered evidence of an immediate military risk.

“I would not say that this decision alone constitutes evidence of an immediate military risk for Kosovo. Any threat assessment should be based on a broader analysis, taking into account other factors as well, such as military force movements, political rhetoric, developments on the ground, and the information available to security institutions,” he says.

According to Berisha, the latest developments should be seen as a signal for greater vigilance, but not for inciting panic.

“In my assessment, this development should serve as a signal for greater vigilance and continuous monitoring, but not to create panic or draw premature conclusions,” he stresses.

In the end, the expert adds that Kosovo should continue strengthening its security capacities and cooperation with international partners.

“Kosovo should continue to strengthen its security capacities and maintain close coordination with international allies, who remain a key factor for stability and security in the region,” Fidair Berisha concludes for “Bota sot”.

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