Intensive food safety inspections to begin on January 1
Intensive food safety inspections will begin on January 1 to verify product standards and labelling, Agriculture Minister Andis Salla told a parliamentary committee during discussions on the 2027 draft budget. The Ministry of Agriculture will work with the National Food Authority and food safety laboratories to monitor products and check …
Albania to host European constitutional courts congress in 2027
Albania’s Constitutional Court will host the Congress of European Constitutional Courts in October 2027, providing a platform for exchanging ideas and initiatives on constitutional justice, Secretary-General Eugen Papandile told a parliamentary committee during discussions on the 2027 draft budget. Papandile said the event would strengthen Albania’s role in European judicial …
Ibrahimaj: New Programme to Help Businesses Align with EU Standards
Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj chaired a meeting of the Investment Council, bringing together business representatives and international partners to discuss ways to improve the investment climate, align businesses with European Union standards and simplify administrative procedures. The meeting presented an analysis by the Investment Council Secretariat, along …
Elbasan marks 82nd anniversary of its liberation with tribute to 23 fallen partisans
Elbasan marked the 82nd anniversary of its liberation on Wednesday with a ceremony honouring fallen members of the 15th Assault Brigade. Veterans of the National Liberation War, relatives of the fallen, local residents and local government representatives gathered at the monument dedicated to the 23 partisans who gave their lives …
Transparency Board caps diesel at 205 lek and petrol at 164 lek per litre
The Transparency Board has set new nationwide price caps for retail and wholesale sales of diesel and petrol. At its meeting on Wednesday, 11 November, the Board set the maximum retail price for diesel at 205 lek per litre and the maximum wholesale price at 193 lek per litre. Petrol …
PM Kurti says Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo would demonstrate genuine democracy
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has set a clear condition for Serbia’s next government to recognise Kosovo’s independence. In an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI), Kurti expressed hope that the Student List, which reportedly won Serbia’s 25 October parliamentary elections, would take a new approach to Kosovo and commit …
Students boycott classes and join nationwide protest
Anti-government protests continued on Wednesday, marking the 165th day of public mobilisation. A nationwide protest was announced in Tirana, with students and residents from several cities across the country expected to attend. The rally is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. outside the Ministry of Education. Protesters are then expected …
Shehu says EU report confirms Albania’s progress and warns violence cannot replace democratic dialogue
Arianit Shehu, executive director of the American Center for Countering Extremism and Terrorism (ACCET), says the European Commission’s progress report confirms that Albania is moving closer to European Union membership. In an opinion piece, Shehu argues that EU integration should take precedence over party interests. He describes the report, published …
Gogu discusses judicial reform and faster court proceedings with Italian counterparts
TIRANA, Nov 11 /ATA/ Justice Minister Toni Gogu held three meetings in Rome with representatives of Italian institutions, focusing on strengthening cooperation between Albania and Italy in the field of justice. During his visit to the Italian Senate, Gogu met with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, …
Gonxhja: Young people are not our adversaries—and meaningful dialogue must bridge our divides
TIRANA, November 11 /ATA/ – Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja participated today in an expanded meeting of the National Youth Council. Gonxhja noted that beyond the specific topics discussed, the meeting highlighted the level of education, critical thinking and sensitivity of a generation that seeks to be …
Amid fresh starts and problems old and new, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week suggests that many countries in the region are at a crossroads. Which way will they go? Original post Here
Heavy rainfall and rising water levels have caused flooding in Theth, a tourist destination in northern Albania. Overflowing streams have sent water towards several tourist businesses, reaching areas around guesthouses and disrupting their activities. Meanwhile, the area has been without electricity for around 24 hours due to the conditions. Continuous …
Kosova’s Assembly is expected to vote again on the law governing the Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The vote concerns the same text approved on October 6 and returned for reconsideration by President Justina Shiroka Pula on October 22. If at least 61 lawmakers vote in favour, the assembly will …
Albania’s National Library hosted Polish writer Malgorzata Rejmer on Thursday as part of “READ FOR REAL – European Authors Day 2026”. The European literary initiative promotes authors, reading and cultural dialogue between countries. This marks Albania’s first participation in the initiative, joining the European network of countries hosting literary events. …
The Academy of Sciences of Albania has organised the two-day international scientific conference “AI Horizon – A New Space for Creativity and Innovation”. The conference focuses on developments in artificial intelligence and the opportunities it offers across different fields. It began on November 12. The Academy’s Section of Technical and …
The Butrint Management Foundation is preparing to launch an emergency conservation project covering seven monuments at Butrint National Park. Experts identified the sites as priorities after documenting and assessing their condition. The project will focus on the Western Gate, the fresco near the Western Gate, the Northern Gate, the Lake …
Albania is preparing a more comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptoasset markets to support new digital financial services, clarify operators’ responsibilities and strengthen consumer protection. Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation Martin Kajo presented the draft law to the Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development. He said technological advances …
The Agency for Media and Information (MIA) said the decision to host the next NATO summit in Tirana remains unchanged. In a social media post, MIA clarified that Prime Minister Edi Rama’s statement a day earlier concerned only the summit’s timing, not the cancellation or reversal of the decision to …
Albania’s 2–0 win over Finland caught the attention of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who shared a story from a dinner he attended during the European Political Community summit. Rama said he was seated at the same table as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the prime minister of Finland, the …
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met with Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset on the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPC) summit. Kurti announced the meeting in a Facebook post, saying the talks focused on Kosovo’s accession to the Council of Europe. The prime minister said membership would …