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Vuno Declared a Historical Center and Immovable Cultural Heritage Site

The Albanian government has approved a decision declaring the village of Vuno an immovable cultural heritage site and a Historical Center, while also defining its protected zone. According to the decision, authorities established the boundaries of Vuno’s Historical Center based on zoning maps and coordinates within the Albanian Geodetic Reference …

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Rama Ahead of UN General Assembly Address: Proud of Albania

Prime Minister Edi Rama is set to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York today. Before delivering his speech, Rama shared a photo on social media standing beside the Albanian flag at the UN headquarters. “Proud of Albania,” Rama wrote alongside the image. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is …

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Rama: Albania Building an AI-Powered Digital Mirror to Detect Manipulation

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that Albania is developing an artificial intelligence-powered Digital Mirror designed to identify manipulation in real time. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Rama said the Digital Mirror will not act as an arbiter of opinion. Instead, it will serve as a …

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Rama posts photo shortly before UN speech, Prime Minister beside Albanian flag

Prime Minister Edi Rama has posted a photograph shortly before his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In the image shared on social media, Rama is seen standing beside the Albanian flag as he waits to take the podium at the UN. Rama is in New …

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Rama at the UN: “Flamingo Revolution” was fabricated through a “strategic lie” about an Israeli takeover of Albania’s coast

Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke in his address to the United Nations General Assembly about the impact of disinformation and Artificial Intelligence on society, citing the “Flamingo Revolution” protests in Albania as an example. Rama claimed that the movement was driven by a fabricated narrative alleging an Israeli takeover of …

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Week in Review: Spyware, AI and Arrests

Tech concerns mount over elections in Serbia, spy chief’s arrest tests Albania’s NATO ties, protests over court verdicts continue in Kosovo and North Macedonia mulls impact of dangerous virus, our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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More than 9.4 million foreign nationals enter Albania in eight months

More than 9.4 million foreign nationals entered Albania in the first eight months of 2026, according to INSTAT. The figure represents a 5.3% increase from the same period in 2025. In August alone, foreign entries rose 2% year on year. The pace slowed from July, when entries increased 7.1%, but …

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Shëngjin bypass in Lezha expected to be completed in March 2027

Work is continuing on the Shëngjin bypass in Lezha, which will ease traffic and improve access to coastal tourist areas. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared footage from the construction site and said the bypass is expected to be fully completed by March 2027. The 8.1-kilometre road runs along the slopes …

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Albanian lawmaker Taulant Balla meets US General Wesley Clark in New York

Albanian lawmaker Taulant Balla met US General Wesley Clark during his visit to New York. Clark served as Supreme Allied Commander Europe and led NATO’s air campaign in 1999 during the war in Kosova. Balla expressed gratitude to Clark for his role during NATO’s intervention and for his support for …

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New US ambassador Eric Wendt arrives in Tirana

New US Ambassador Eric Wendt arrived in Tirana on Friday. He is expected to present his credentials to President Bajram Begaj on Saturday. The ceremony will take place at 11:00 at the Palace of Brigades. Begaj and Wendt are also expected to hold a private meeting. The US Senate confirmed …

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Will Albania’s Handling of ‘Flamingo’ Protests Affect its EU Accession Progress?

The anti-government protests that rocked Albania this summer will not jeopardise its EU membership prospects – but will feed into a broader assessment of Tirana’s respect for democracy and that rule of law. Original post Here

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Demo meets Director for Western Balkans Superti: Chapters 24 and 22 in focus as Albania presses ahead toward its 2027 goal

Interior Minister Ervin Demo met with Valentina Superti, Director for the Western Balkans at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement, to discuss Albania’s progress toward EU membership. Their first meeting focused on the final milestones for Chapter 24, “Justice, Freedom and Security,” and Chapter 22, “Regional Policy and Coordination of …

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Albania Customs Administration publishes new manual to standardize customs valuation practices

Albania’s Customs Administration has published the “Customs Valuation Manual”, a practical guide designed to standardize procedures and ensure the consistent application of rules for determining the value of goods for customs purposes. The manual brings together the relevant legal framework and customs valuation methods. It also addresses issues that customs …

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Minister Gogu presents Criminal Procedure Code changes: Pre-trial detention should remain exceptional; Electronic monitoring to start by next spring

Justice Minister Toni Gogu, together with the Council of Europe, presented proposed amendments to Albania’s Criminal Procedure Code today. The initiative launches a public consultation on a broad reform of criminal procedures. The proposals focus on pre-trial detention, alternatives to imprisonment, stronger safeguards and the protection of individual rights. In …

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Parliament honors Vendim Kapaj: Albanian traditional sounds featured in Nolan’s “The Odyssey”

On National Cultural Heritage Day, the Albanian Parliament expressed its appreciation for everyone who works to preserve and pass on the country’s cultural heritage from one generation to the next. In a social media post, Parliament highlighted the work of Vendim Kapaj, who holds the title “Grand Master” and has …

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Finance Minister Malaj meets IMF mission: Significant improvements in public investment planning and management

Finance Minister Petrit Malaj met with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission assessing public investment efficiency (PIMA), led by Ian Hawkesworth. The meeting focused on the IMF’s findings and assessment of Albania’s public investment efficiency. The IMF plans to publish the full report soon. During the meeting, participants highlighted Albania’s …

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Rama: No prison detention for offences carrying sentences of less than five years

Prime Minister Edi Rama today presented a draft package of amendments to Albania’s Criminal Procedure Code. Rama focused on the rules for imposing security measures. He also outlined plans to strengthen alternatives to pre-trial detention. During the presentation, Rama referred to an episode involving Professor Rafael Pariso. According to Rama, …

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Director-General of the EC Esposito: New Criminal Procedure Code should strengthen justice and protect rights

“Drafting a Criminal Procedure Code ranks among a country’s most important undertakings. It defines how authorities collect evidence, conduct questioning, restrict freedom and enforce criminal penalties,” said Gianluca Esposito, Director General for Human Rights and the Rule of Law at the Council of Europe. Speaking at a meeting in Tirana …

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Gonxhja: Objects from Ardenica’s “Mill Room” added to cultural heritage inventory

On National Cultural Heritage Day, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja announced that the National Institute of Cultural Heritage has registered and catalogued, for the first time, the objects preserved in the “Mill Room” at Ardenica Monastery. The objects will now become part of Albania’s cultural heritage inventory. …

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German Cultural Week Brings Oktoberfest, Art and Music to Tirana

German Cultural Week 2026 will bring art, music, gastronomy and traditions to Tirana under the slogan “Culture Connects Us All,” as part of the International Cultural Weeks. From October 2 to 6, the city will celebrate German culture through a diverse program of events. Since the launch of the International …

News

Will Albania’s Handling of ‘Flamingo’ Protests Affect its EU Accession Progress?

The anti-government protests that rocked Albania this summer will not jeopardise its EU membership prospects – but will feed into a broader assessment of Tirana’s respect for democracy and that rule of law. Original post Here

News

Demo meets Director for Western Balkans Superti: Chapters 24 and 22 in focus as Albania presses ahead toward its 2027 goal

Interior Minister Ervin Demo met with Valentina Superti, Director for the Western Balkans at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement, to discuss Albania’s progress toward EU membership. Their first meeting focused on the final milestones for Chapter 24, “Justice, Freedom and Security,” and Chapter 22, “Regional Policy and Coordination of …

News

Albania Customs Administration publishes new manual to standardize customs valuation practices

Albania’s Customs Administration has published the “Customs Valuation Manual”, a practical guide designed to standardize procedures and ensure the consistent application of rules for determining the value of goods for customs purposes. The manual brings together the relevant legal framework and customs valuation methods. It also addresses issues that customs …

News

Minister Gogu presents Criminal Procedure Code changes: Pre-trial detention should remain exceptional; Electronic monitoring to start by next spring

Justice Minister Toni Gogu, together with the Council of Europe, presented proposed amendments to Albania’s Criminal Procedure Code today. The initiative launches a public consultation on a broad reform of criminal procedures. The proposals focus on pre-trial detention, alternatives to imprisonment, stronger safeguards and the protection of individual rights. In …

News

Parliament honors Vendim Kapaj: Albanian traditional sounds featured in Nolan’s “The Odyssey”

On National Cultural Heritage Day, the Albanian Parliament expressed its appreciation for everyone who works to preserve and pass on the country’s cultural heritage from one generation to the next. In a social media post, Parliament highlighted the work of Vendim Kapaj, who holds the title “Grand Master” and has …

News

Finance Minister Malaj meets IMF mission: Significant improvements in public investment planning and management

Finance Minister Petrit Malaj met with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission assessing public investment efficiency (PIMA), led by Ian Hawkesworth. The meeting focused on the IMF’s findings and assessment of Albania’s public investment efficiency. The IMF plans to publish the full report soon. During the meeting, participants highlighted Albania’s …

News

Rama: No prison detention for offences carrying sentences of less than five years

Prime Minister Edi Rama today presented a draft package of amendments to Albania’s Criminal Procedure Code. Rama focused on the rules for imposing security measures. He also outlined plans to strengthen alternatives to pre-trial detention. During the presentation, Rama referred to an episode involving Professor Rafael Pariso. According to Rama, …

News

Director-General of the EC Esposito: New Criminal Procedure Code should strengthen justice and protect rights

“Drafting a Criminal Procedure Code ranks among a country’s most important undertakings. It defines how authorities collect evidence, conduct questioning, restrict freedom and enforce criminal penalties,” said Gianluca Esposito, Director General for Human Rights and the Rule of Law at the Council of Europe. Speaking at a meeting in Tirana …

News

Gonxhja: Objects from Ardenica’s “Mill Room” added to cultural heritage inventory

On National Cultural Heritage Day, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja announced that the National Institute of Cultural Heritage has registered and catalogued, for the first time, the objects preserved in the “Mill Room” at Ardenica Monastery. The objects will now become part of Albania’s cultural heritage inventory. …

News

German Cultural Week Brings Oktoberfest, Art and Music to Tirana

German Cultural Week 2026 will bring art, music, gastronomy and traditions to Tirana under the slogan “Culture Connects Us All,” as part of the International Cultural Weeks. From October 2 to 6, the city will celebrate German culture through a diverse program of events. Since the launch of the International …