Foreign tourists praise Durrës for hospitality, beaches and affordable prices
TIRANA, August 7 – Foreign tourists visiting Durrës during the summer season have praised the city’s beaches, hospitality, affordable prices and relaxing atmosphere. Visitors from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, England, the Czech Republic and the Dominican Republic said they had a positive experience and considered Durrës an attractive destination for …
Financial Times: PM Rama says Albania has clear path to EU membership
TIRANA, August 7 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania has a clear path toward European Union membership in an interview with the Financial Times, which examined the European Union’s renewed enlargement agenda. Rama said the country is in one of the strongest positions in its modern history. He added …
Business turnover rises by ALL 127 billion in first half of 2026
TIRANA, August 7 – Business turnover across Albania’s main economic sectors increased by ALL 127 billion during the first half of 2026, reflecting stronger economic activity, Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said. Malaj said business turnover rose by 7% compared with the same period in 2025. He added that the figures …
Central Purchasing Operator launches new electronic procurement platform
TIRANA, August 7 – The Central Purchasing Operator (OBP) launched a new electronic procurement platform to fully digitalize the management of public procurement requests, Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said. Ibrahimaj said the new platform, prokurimet.obp.al, will allow more than 250 contracting authorities to manage procurement requests entirely online. …
Property revaluation saves taxpayers €120.5 million in seven months
TIRANA, August 6 – Albania’s property revaluation scheme has saved taxpayers €120.5 million in fiscal costs during the first seven months of 2026, according to the General Directorate of Taxation. The scheme allows property owners to revalue real estate by paying a reduced 5% tax rate. Tax authorities said the …
Finance Ministry begins preparations for new Eurobond issue
TIRANA, August 6 – Albania’s Finance Ministry has started preliminary preparations for a new Eurobond issue planned for 2027 as the country’s macroeconomic indicators continue to show positive performance. Deputy Finance Minister Endrit Yzeiraj said officials discussed recent macroeconomic developments, government borrowing plans in international capital markets and future cooperation …
Kosova Assembly suspends constitutive session as PM Kurti seeks more time for presidential deal
TIRANA, August 6 – Kosova’s Assembly suspended its constitutive session after Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti requested more time for political talks on a candidate for the country’s next president. Kurti told lawmakers that additional time was necessary to allow negotiations to continue. He said the parties needed more time to …
Strategic infrastructure and energy projects advance across Albania
TIRANA, August 6 – The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy continued work during the first seven months of 2026 on strategic projects in roads, energy, water supply and transport. The investments aim to improve public services, strengthen energy security and support economic development. Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi …
“The Coffee Cantata” brings Bach’s humor and music to Tirana’s Grand Park
TIRANA, August 6 – Tirana’s Grand Park hosted The Coffee Cantata on Wednesday evening. The concert featured an Albanian-language performance of the satirical work by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The event formed part of the “Bah… Café!” project with the support of the Municipality of Tirana. It combined classical …
August brings peak tourist season to mountainous Theth with around 2,000 overnight visitors
TIRANA, August 6 – August has brought the peak of the tourist season to Theth, one of the most visited destinations in the Albanian Alps. Around 2,000 tourists stay in the village each night on average, and most of them are foreign visitors. Besides the Grunas Waterfall and the Alp’s …
A fire broke out at a hotel in Vlora early on August 16. Police said the incident happened at around 4:05 a.m. in the “10 Korriku” neighborhood. Six tourists suffered injuries. Five were citizens of Kosovo, while one was from Rrëshen. Five of the injured tourists were taken to the …
Prime Minister Edi Rama told British media outlet UnHerd that recent protests in Albania differ from those held in June. According to Rama, more political parties and opposition groups have joined the latest demonstrations. These groups include both far-left and far-right forces. Despite the tensions, Rama said he was “very …
TIRANA, August 14 – Kosova is ready to assist Albania and Montenegro as they tackle wildfires in several areas, acting Defence Minister Ejup Maqedonci said. Maqedonci said he had informed his counterparts in Albania and Montenegro that Kosova’s Ministry of Defence could provide support through its available capabilities. He said …
TIRANA, August 14 – The wildfire situation in Kruja has improved significantly over the past 24 hours. The remaining active fires in Abaze and Gryka e Vajës are burning at much lower intensity. Kruja Mayor Artur Bushi said teams have tackled the fires from the air and on the ground. …
TIRANA, August 14 – Albania is experiencing high tourist flows this summer. Visitors have access to a wide calendar of cultural, artistic, sports and gastronomic activities. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a photo album today featuring major tourist destinations across the country. Alongside coastal resorts, visitors are showing growing interest …
Papers highlight Albania’s transformation since 1990s – with population growth limited to a few urban centres and most municipalities housing shrinking, elderly communities. Original post Here
TIRANA, August 14 – Albania has digitized its visa application process through the e-Visa system. The system allows foreign nationals who need a visa to apply and track their applications online. Besmir Meta, an IT specialist at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, said the National Agency of Information …
TIRANA, August 14 – Banks lowered interest rates on several major lending segments during the second quarter of the year. However, consumer loans and euro-denominated mortgages for individuals followed a different trend. Bank of Albania data show that the average rate on new ALL loans fell to 6.3%, from 6.5% …
TIRANA, August 14 – Startups supported through Albania’s grant scheme in 2024-2025 have increased their activity, employment, revenue and number of clients. Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj shared data on the performance of the businesses after receiving grant funding. She said Startup Albania supports Albanian startups through the grant …
TIRANA, August 14 – Major foreign currencies recorded slight movements against the ALL, according to the Bank of Albania’s official exchange rate. The euro fell by 0.09 ALL from the previous day and trades at €1 = 92.92 ALL. Meanwhile, the British pound declined by 0.22 ALL and trades at …