Kosovo faces traffic limits, growing trade deficit and police policy disputes

The Kosovo Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport announced temporary traffic restrictions on 24‑25 June 2026 to accommodate the Kosovo Cycling Championship, closing sections of the Arbër Xhaferi highway during race periods.

Statistics from the Kosovo Agency of Statistics show the trade deficit widening to €544.4 million in May 2026, despite a 15.7 % rise in exports to €94.1 million and a 5.6 % increase in imports to €638.6 million.

A WeBalkans 2026 survey found 85.6 % public confidence in the Kosovo Police, the highest among institutions, while former police chief Reshat Maliqi criticised recent practice of confiscating over 6,000 driver licences and vehicles, calling it a potential breach of human rights.

The government also allocated €3 million to subsidise border‑police salaries for migrant traffic, a measure criticised as a temporary fix pending Kosovo’s accession to the European Green Card system.