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Anti-drug operation in Tirana, police destroyed a group with 35 members distributed narcotics near schools

Tirana police held a conference where they gave details about the operation carried out in the capital against drug trafficking. A group consisting of 35 members was destroyed by this action. 20 people were arrested while the security measure was executed for five people arrested earlier. According to the police, …

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National anti-immigration strategy/ Balla: We aim to curb asylum requests

The Minister of the Interior, Taulant Balla said that they have approved a national strategy, which aims to prevent illegal immigration and curb requests for asylum. He further stated that the government aims to reintegrate Albanian immigrants into the labor market and this strategy, Balla added, is part of the …

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Has the United States’ foreign policy failed in the Western Balkans?

Agim Nesho The establishment of Serbia’s new government and the emergence of ultra-nationalist pro-Russian figures like Vulin deal a heavy blow to Western policy and its strategy to bring Serbia closer to the EU. Despite Ambassador Hill’s assertion that “Serbia is closer to NATO than Kosovo,” Vucic’s nationalists responded with …

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New support package for investments in Alps

Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared images from the works in Shkodër, where the focus remains on tourism. Rama emphasizes that step by step work is being done for a healthier economy, while also wishing May 1, the International Workers’ Day. “GOOD MORNING and from Shkodra, where working people are …

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Protest in front of the City hall/ Three arrested, several others are being sought

Three people have been criminally prosecuted after the protest held in front of the Tirana Municipality. Three others have also been announced as wanted. The procedure has started for the citizen, Klodjan Korriku, Selaudin Gordani and Arben Qordja. “The Local Directorate of the Tirana Police, in relation to the violent …

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SPAK arrested 3 people for drug trafficking

Three people were arrested by order of SPAK, as part of the “Flame at Sea” operation. This operation was carried out on 15.08.2023, where an attempt was made to traffic a significant amount of narcotics by sea. Alket Deda, Xenofon Bodo, Selami Lushkaj have been imprisoned. The security measures against …

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Tourism/ Rama: Albania in a new stage of success

Prime Minister Edi Rama from Elbasan, where he inspected the Ferrochrome industry of AlbChrome in the city of Elbasan, stated that the employee is important to be motivated and also respected. Rama emphasized the importance of working conditions, while he said that the country is now in a new stage …

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Security Commission, Balla: Every apartment in Albania will have a unique code

Interior Minister Taulant Balla spoke about the law on addresses at the meeting of the Parliamentary Security Committee. Balla emphasized that it is very important that the national address register be updated regularly. “Each apartment in Albania will have a unique code.  We also worked with by laws. Good laws …

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Tirana mayor summoned by special prosecutors in corruption probe

TIRANA, Apr. 30, 2024 – Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj was summoned on Tuesday to the office of Albania’s Special Prosecutors for Organized Crime and Corruption (SPAK) as part of its investigation into corruption related to the construction of the Tirana waste incinerator.  The move marks the first time Mr. Veliaj …

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Bank of Albania moves to apply for SEPA membership

Albanian businesses and individuals have for years complained that bank transfers — both domestic and international — are costly and slow. SEPA membership would help solve the problem.  TIRANA, Apr. 30, 2024 – Albania has started procedures to join the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) — a move experts say …

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Albanian Parliament Under Cyberattack Linked to Iran

Tirana Times, March 10, 2026 – A cyberattack targeting Albania’s Parliament has revived one of the country’s most serious national security concerns, underscoring the return of a threat that Albanian institutions have come to associate with Iran linked retaliation. The breach, confirmed by Parliament on Tuesday, involved unauthorized access to …

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Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

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Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

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Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

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Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

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Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

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Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

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The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

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Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …

News

Albanian Parliament Under Cyberattack Linked to Iran

Tirana Times, March 10, 2026 – A cyberattack targeting Albania’s Parliament has revived one of the country’s most serious national security concerns, underscoring the return of a threat that Albanian institutions have come to associate with Iran linked retaliation. The breach, confirmed by Parliament on Tuesday, involved unauthorized access to …

News

Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

News

Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

News

Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

News

Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

News

Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

News

Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

News

The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

News

Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …