The early parliamentary elections held on June 7 were generally considered free, fair and competitive, in line with democratic standards. No problems that could undermine the overall integrity of the elections were identified during the process.

These conclusions were presented at the conference “Strengthening Electoral Integrity: Findings and Recommendations from the 2026 Early Parliamentary Elections,” organized by the Democracy in Action (DnV) coalition of election-monitoring organizations.

The election administration was assessed as largely professional, but difficulties were identified in locating and accessing polling stations, particularly for people with disabilities. Other challenges included the inconsistent application of procedures and problems in the digital information environment.

Swiss Deputy Ambassador Christoph Fuchs said the process took place in a calm, competitive and peaceful atmosphere. He praised the work of the Central Election Commission and the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel, saying the CEC handled most cases professionally, while the ECAP also demonstrated professionalism.

According to Fuchs, the reports highlighted citizens’ difficulties in finding their polling stations, barriers faced by people with disabilities, the lack of consistent implementation of procedures and challenges related to the digital information space. He stressed that these are not merely technical issues, as they are also linked to a lack of trust. Citizens, he said, must be confident that laws are applied equally to everyone and that their vote is protected and remains secret.

Fuchs added that elections cannot replace functioning institutions. According to him, political actors must be able to express disagreements without obstructing the functioning of institutions, while low voter turnout has underscored the need for effective institutions.

Stublla emphasized that election observation is important for strengthening accountability, integrity and trust in democratic institutions. She said Sweden considers election monitoring and observation a key element, while the presence of observers directly contributes to raising these standards.

According to Stublla, Kosovo’s parliamentary elections once again demonstrated the country’s continued commitment to democratic principles. She recalled that domestic and international observers described the process as generally calm and well administered. Stublla also emphasized that voting is a fundamental human right that must be exercised and respected as such. Every vote, she said, matters and can help improve lives and society, while those who choose not to participate miss an important opportunity to influence the country’s direction.

Eugen Cakolli of IKD said that, from a technical standpoint, the June 7 elections were significantly better than previous processes. However, on the political level, he said these elections show that the country is turning to elections because of crises that are not being resolved through the electoral processes themselves.

Cakolli assessed that the elections were generally conducted in accordance with democratic standards for a free, fair and competitive contest. He said the process was administered professionally overall and that DnV found no problems that would undermine the overall integrity of the elections. According to him, the CEC managed the vast majority of the process more professionally than in any previous electoral process.

Out-of-country voting was listed among the issues requiring further attention. Cakolli said the process was more orderly and less politicized, but that it remains a serious issue for investigative institutions. The concern relates to social media posts alleging that organized groups of voters were filling out large numbers of ballots. DnV has called for these cases to be addressed by investigative institutions.

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Albania experienced temperatures significantly above the climate average at the end of June, during a month that brought new heat records in Europe and globally.

A map published by the Copernicus Climate Change Service and posted on the European Commission’s website shows that, during the period from June 18 to 30, 2026, average surface air temperatures in Albania were generally around 2°C to 4°C above the 1991–2020 average.

The anomaly was more pronounced in the northern and central parts of the Balkan region, while Greece and areas farther south recorded more limited deviations.

Although Albania was not among the continent’s most extreme areas, the map shows that the country was part of a broad heat belt stretching from the Iberian Peninsula and France, through Central Europe, to Eastern Europe.

According to Copernicus, June 2026 was the hottest June ever recorded in Western Europe and the second hottest globally.

The global average temperature reached 16.54°C, or 0.56°C above the 1991–2020 average and 1.39°C above the estimated level for the pre-industrial period of 1850–1900.

Western Europe up to 9°C above normal

The most severe conditions were recorded in Western Europe. During the second half of June, parts of France and Germany experienced average temperatures up to 9°C above the climate norm.

The Copernicus map shows France, the Benelux countries, Germany, Switzerland and parts of Central Europe in the darkest colors, indicating deviations of 7°C to 9°C above the 1991–2020 average.

The average temperature in Western Europe reached 20.74°C in June, 3.05°C above the monthly norm, surpassing even the record set just one year earlier, in June 2025.

Only Cyprus and Malta recorded temperatures close to normal levels, according to the European Commission.

In Spain and Portugal, temperatures were mostly 3°C to 6°C above average, while in some areas of the United Kingdom the deviation reached 5°C to 7°C.

Italy, the Adriatic countries and most of the Balkans were also affected by above-normal temperatures, but with less intensity than Western Europe. Across most of Italy, Croatia, Albania and Montenegro, the map shows deviations generally ranging from 2°C to 4°C.

In Central and Eastern Europe, the belt of high temperatures extended across Poland, the Baltic countries, Ukraine and western Russia, where anomalies reached 5°C to 7°C in some areas.

Copernicus reported that the average temperature over European land in June was the second highest ever recorded for the month. The heat was also accompanied by the highest global sea surface temperatures ever recorded for a June.

Drought and wildfire risk

The high temperatures were accompanied by drier conditions in parts of Europe, increasing the risk of wildfires in forests and grasslands. Copernicus estimates that drought contributed to the spread of fires in Europe, North America and Russia during the month.

For Albania, the above-normal temperatures at the end of June coincided with the start of the wildfire season, when a lack of rainfall, dry vegetation and winds can accelerate the spread of flames.

The new data confirm that heatwaves are occurring earlier, lasting longer and affecting increasingly large areas of the continent. Copernicus warns that the continued accumulation of heat in the climate system is increasing the intensity of heatwaves and the risks to health, ecosystems and infrastructure. /Monitor

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