Kosovo Election Watch: Kosovo’s parliamentary campaign has kicked off ahead of the 7 June vote, with Vetëvendosje and PDK launching events and election monitors warning that recent government spending could tilt the playing field. Security & Institutions: Prime Minister Albin Kurti says Kosovo needs a new gendarmerie to handle modern threats, bridge gaps between police and the security force, and protect borders and critical infrastructure. North Kosovo Tensions: Pristina-backed authorities raided Serbian Railways buildings in Zvečan and other northern towns, removed Cyrillic signage, and replaced it with “Railway infrastructure of Kosovo” branding as campaigning begins. Serbia–EU Friction: A growing bloc of EU states is pushing back on Ukraine’s accelerated EU path, raising the wider question of how enlargement reshapes budgets—an issue that will inevitably echo in Kosovo’s own EU debate. Regional Diplomacy: EU Council President António Costa is set for a Western Balkans tour (1–5 June), including stops in Pristina and Belgrade, focused on enlargement, integration, and security. International Context: US lawmakers visited the Balkans amid Russia concerns, with Kosovo and NATO’s KFOR mission highlighted as key to stability. Online Abuse & AI: As the vote nears, women in Kosovo face heavier online abuse and manipulation, including AI-generated political propaganda.