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No Good News From Brussels

By Genc Pollo TIRANA, Albania – On November 4, as every year, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos presented the European Commission’s progress reports on the ten countries aspiring to European Union membership before the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET). She outlined the Commission’s assessment of each country …

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Albania’s ‘Coordinator’? The Rapid Rise and Sudden Fall of Ergys Agasi

Ergys Agasi started out as a young inspector at Albania’s environment ministry. Over the next decade, he accrued businesses, properties and influence within the highest echelons of government. His arrest begs the question: how did he rise so far, so fast? Original post Here

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Clear skies along the coast on Friday, temperatures reaching 21°C

The Military Meteorological Service forecasts stable weather on Friday, with clear skies along the coast and across the Western Lowlands. Eastern mountainous areas will see sunny spells and variable cloud cover, occasionally becoming dense. Northeasterly to northwesterly winds will average 4 metres per second. Speeds may reach 8 metres per …

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FM Hoxha and Romanian Senate president discuss closer institutional ties

Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha met Romanian Senate President Mircea Abrudean in Bucharest during a working visit. They reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries. Both stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral relations through parliamentary cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy. Their discussions also covered Albania’s path towards European …

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FM Hoxha discusses closer ties and European Union support with Romanian prime minister

Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha met Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu in Bucharest during his working visit. They discussed strengthening the partnership between the two NATO allies and their shared European future. Hoxha said the talks focused on expanding bilateral economic cooperation and investment. They also discussed closer coordination on challenges …

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European Commission praises progress on business legislation

Albania has made good progress in aligning its business legislation with European Union standards, according to the European Commission’s 2026 report. The country has reached a good level of preparation in company law, covered by Chapter 6, with advances in business registration, financial transparency and auditing. Among the key developments, …

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Travel and Tour World highlights Albania’s tourism and construction investment potential

Travel and Tour World reports that Albania has attracted around €1.14 billion in foreign investment, highlighting opportunities in tourism, real estate, construction and hospitality. Tirana is emerging as a key centre for hotel and property development. Along the coast, Durrës, Vlora, Saranda and Ksamil offer opportunities in accommodation, restaurants and …

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Tirana to host second European Union–Western Balkans investment forum

Tirana will host the second European Union–Western Balkans Investment Forum on 25–26 November 2026. The event will bring together key political, financial and economic stakeholders to explore investment opportunities and strengthen regional cooperation. The forum returns to Tirana after its first edition, aiming to attract new investment, build strategic partnerships …

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Albania and Montenegro join forces to digitalize and modernize public services

TIRANA, November 6 /ATSH/ – Minister of Justice Toni Gogu held a meeting in Podgorica with Minister of Public Administration of Montenegro Marash Dukaj. The two officials discussed the digitalization of public services, cybersecurity and the modernization of public administration. Gogu described the meeting as a friendly conversation, noting Dukaj’s …

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Rama renews call for dialogue with students

TIRANA, November 6/ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama has issued another call for students to join the negotiating table, placing a stone table—symbolizing a traditional communal dining surface—in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, along with invitations bearing the word “Dialogue.” Meanwhile, the youth protest continues, with students sharing differing …

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Agriculture minister Andis Salla outlines priorities for ALL 18 billion budget

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla has presented a budget of around ALL 18 billion for 2027, a 10% increase on the initial 2026 allocation. The plan prioritises farmer support, agricultural competitiveness, food safety and preparations for European Union integration. Rural development remains the main funding priority, with ALL …

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National Gallery of Arts presents works by 16 Albanian artists

The National Gallery of Arts has opened In the Present – Creativity Fund 2026 at HangArt-Kinostudio. The exhibition brings together new works by 16 Albanian artists. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport launched the open call for the first time in 2026. The gallery selected 10 established artists and …

News
EU ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa hands 2026 progress report to FM Ferit Hoxha

European Union Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa has handed Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha a copy of the 2026 Progress Report on Albania during a meeting at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Hoxha described the report as the most comprehensive annual assessment of Albania’s progress towards European …

News
Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Italian President Sergio Mattarella meet Arbëreshë mayors

Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Italian President Sergio Mattarella received the mayors of all Arbëreshë municipalities in Italy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. The meeting highlighted the community’s enduring role in Albanian-Italian relations and its contribution to their shared European heritage. Begaj described the Arbëreshë as the foundation of …

News
Albania Remains Kosovo’s Main Export Market, with €182 Million in Exports

Kosovo’s imports exceeded €6.3 billion in the first ten months of 2026, marking an 8.5% increase compared to the previous year. According to the figures, Albania remains Kosovo’s main export partner, while China has overtaken Germany as the leading country of origin for imported goods. Kosovo imported more than €6.3 …

News
Begaj and Mattarella Welcome Mayors of Arbëresh Municipalities: “They Are the Foundation of Albanian-Italian Brotherhood”

Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Italian President Sergio Mattarella jointly welcomed the mayors of all Arbëresh municipalities in Italy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. The meeting was held in recognition of the Arbëresh community, which has preserved the Albanian language, traditions, and identity for more than five centuries. During …

News
Albania and Kosovo Share Expertise in Rope Rescue Operations

At a time when emergencies and various disasters are putting response capabilities to the test, search and rescue teams are working to improve their readiness and skills to handle critical situations. As part of these efforts, teams from Albania and Kosovo held a joint training exercise in the Krraba area. …

News
Baby Bonus, Rama: Starting July 1, 2027, Financial Support for Every Newborn Will Be Provided for Five Years

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Monday a new baby bonus scheme, which is expected to take effect on July 1, 2027. Under the proposed scheme, families will receive monthly financial support for each newborn child over a five-year period. In a Facebook post, Rama stated that the amount of …

News
Opposition demands 100% open lists, unveils bill to separate state from political parties

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ Oerd Bylykbashi, the Democratic Party’s co-chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform, accused the Socialist Party of lacking the political will to address OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. Speaking at the committee’s meeting, Bylykbashi said the reform should prioritise separating the state from the ruling party and …

News
Begaj, Mattarella hail Arbëreshë community as cornerstone of Albanian-Italian ties

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – Albanian President Bajram Begaj and his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, on Monday hosted the mayors of all Arbëreshë municipalities in Italy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, highlighting the community’s role in preserving the historic bonds between the two countries. The Arbëreshë, descendants of Albanians …

News

Agriculture minister Andis Salla outlines priorities for ALL 18 billion budget

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla has presented a budget of around ALL 18 billion for 2027, a 10% increase on the initial 2026 allocation. The plan prioritises farmer support, agricultural competitiveness, food safety and preparations for European Union integration. Rural development remains the main funding priority, with ALL …

News

National Gallery of Arts presents works by 16 Albanian artists

The National Gallery of Arts has opened In the Present – Creativity Fund 2026 at HangArt-Kinostudio. The exhibition brings together new works by 16 Albanian artists. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport launched the open call for the first time in 2026. The gallery selected 10 established artists and …

News

EU ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa hands 2026 progress report to FM Ferit Hoxha

European Union Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa has handed Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha a copy of the 2026 Progress Report on Albania during a meeting at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Hoxha described the report as the most comprehensive annual assessment of Albania’s progress towards European …

News

Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Italian President Sergio Mattarella meet Arbëreshë mayors

Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Italian President Sergio Mattarella received the mayors of all Arbëreshë municipalities in Italy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. The meeting highlighted the community’s enduring role in Albanian-Italian relations and its contribution to their shared European heritage. Begaj described the Arbëreshë as the foundation of …

News

Albania Remains Kosovo’s Main Export Market, with €182 Million in Exports

Kosovo’s imports exceeded €6.3 billion in the first ten months of 2026, marking an 8.5% increase compared to the previous year. According to the figures, Albania remains Kosovo’s main export partner, while China has overtaken Germany as the leading country of origin for imported goods. Kosovo imported more than €6.3 …

News

Begaj and Mattarella Welcome Mayors of Arbëresh Municipalities: “They Are the Foundation of Albanian-Italian Brotherhood”

Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Italian President Sergio Mattarella jointly welcomed the mayors of all Arbëresh municipalities in Italy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. The meeting was held in recognition of the Arbëresh community, which has preserved the Albanian language, traditions, and identity for more than five centuries. During …

News

Albania and Kosovo Share Expertise in Rope Rescue Operations

At a time when emergencies and various disasters are putting response capabilities to the test, search and rescue teams are working to improve their readiness and skills to handle critical situations. As part of these efforts, teams from Albania and Kosovo held a joint training exercise in the Krraba area. …

News

Baby Bonus, Rama: Starting July 1, 2027, Financial Support for Every Newborn Will Be Provided for Five Years

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Monday a new baby bonus scheme, which is expected to take effect on July 1, 2027. Under the proposed scheme, families will receive monthly financial support for each newborn child over a five-year period. In a Facebook post, Rama stated that the amount of …

News

Opposition demands 100% open lists, unveils bill to separate state from political parties

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ Oerd Bylykbashi, the Democratic Party’s co-chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform, accused the Socialist Party of lacking the political will to address OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. Speaking at the committee’s meeting, Bylykbashi said the reform should prioritise separating the state from the ruling party and …

News

Begaj, Mattarella hail Arbëreshë community as cornerstone of Albanian-Italian ties

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – Albanian President Bajram Begaj and his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, on Monday hosted the mayors of all Arbëreshë municipalities in Italy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, highlighting the community’s role in preserving the historic bonds between the two countries. The Arbëreshë, descendants of Albanians …