Assembly approves Adea Pirdeni as public administration minister
The Assembly has approved Adea Pirdeni’s appointment as Minister of Public Administration, with 76 votes in favour and none against or abstaining. In a message shared today, Pirdeni stressed the importance of dialogue, respect for the law and institutions, and shared responsibility as Albania moves towards European Union membership. She …
Albania registers nearly 2,000 new businesses in September
Albania registered 1,985 new businesses in September 2026, according to the National Business Centre. Tirana accounted for 1,085 registrations, or 54.7% of the national total. Durrës followed with 212, while Vlora recorded 132. Trade led the sectors attracting new businesses, with 464 registrations. Accommodation and food services followed with 220, …
EU enlargement chief highlights key decisions for Western Balkans
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos says the coming weeks and months will bring decisive moments for Western Balkan countries pursuing European Union membership. Speaking ahead of the Berlin Process summit in Montenegro, Kos highlighted different priorities across the region. Montenegro must complete its accession negotiations, Serbia faces upcoming elections, …
Albanian customs revenue reaches 186 billion ALL in nine months
Albania’s customs administration collected around 185.9 billion ALL in revenue from January to September 2026, an increase of 7.2 billion ALL compared with the same period in 2025. The General Directorate of Customs said the results represented 104% of the revenue target. It described the first nine months of 2026 …
Government plans four-pillar package to support up to 16,000 young people
Albania is preparing a new package to support young people through employment, housing, education and greater transparency, Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation Olta Manjani said. The package initially aims to reach 10,000 young people, with the number potentially rising to 16,000. It includes expanding employment support to 5,000 young …
Rama Renews Invitation for Dialogue with Protesters, This Time Placing Invitations on Stone Benches
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again invited protesters to engage in dialogue. In a video published on Thursday morning, Rama placed the invitations on stone benches, unlike the previous day, when he had placed them on chairs. Alongside the video, the Prime Minister wrote: “Good morning.” A day earlier, …
Opposition Blocks Parliamentary Podium, Peleshi Moves Directly to Voting Amid Tensions
Following tensions in Parliament, where opposition MPs blocked the podium and Flamur Noka removed the microphone from Socialist Party parliamentary group leader Taulant Balla, Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi announced that the session would proceed directly to voting. As the electronic voting system had been damaged, Peleshi said the vote would …
Kos: Coming Months Crucial for Western Balkans’ EU Integration, Albania Must Maintain Reform Momentum
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has praised Montenegro’s progress towards European Union membership, stressing that the coming weeks and months will be decisive for the European future of the Western Balkan countries. Speaking at the Berlin Process Summit in Budva, Montenegro, Kos highlighted that each country in the region …
Rama Compares Number of Injured Police Officers in Tirana with Other Countries Experiencing Protests
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again commented on the protests that have been taking place in Tirana for more than a week. In a Facebook post, Rama criticised the media, accusing them of failing to report transparently on the number of police officers injured during clashes with protesters. Rama’s …
Berlin Process Needs to Level the Playing Field in Bilateral Disputes
A decade of declarations and commitments on good neighbourly relations have not prevented bilateral issues from impeding EU enlargement in the Balkans. A new solution must be found. Original post Here
Serbian strongman Aleksandar Vucic vowed to defeat the student protest movement, but lost in the end. Other movements across the region can learn lessons from the Serbian students about tactics and perseverance. Original post Here
Kosova Assembly Speaker Albulena Haxhiu has begun an official visit to North Macedonia. Her counterpart, Assembly Speaker Afrim Gashi, welcomed her with a state ceremony. During her stay in Skopje, Haxhiu is expected to meet North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. Her agenda also includes meetings …
The National Museum of Photography “Marubi” continues to host “Gjon Mili: Retrospective,” an exhibition celebrating the Albanian-American photographer who transformed motion photography and brought art and science into closer dialogue. Through bold experiments with light, movement and photographic techniques, Mili challenged traditional ways of seeing images. He captured fleeting moments …
The World Bank expects economic growth across the Western Balkans to accelerate in 2026 and strengthen further in 2027. Consumption and investment will support this growth. The region’s economies have remained resilient to shocks and continue to converge with the European Union. However, businesses need more efficient trade rules to …
Shaip Kamberi, an elected Albanian member of Serbia’s parliament, questioned whether the Student List would change its position on Kosova after the new government takes office. He said Serbian politicians continue to use the Kosova issue for political gain. He also argued that nationalist voters play a key role in …
Albanian National Olympic Committee (KOKSH) President Fidel Ylli attended the “European City of Sport” Gala as a special guest, representing ACES Europe in his capacity as honorary president for the Balkans. The ceremony took place at the Hall of Honour of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). In his address, …
Deputy Justice Minister Elona Hoxha outlined six proposed legal instruments to prevent violence during protests, property damage and threats to public order. Speaking to Vizion Plus, she said the package aims to protect citizens and institutions while safeguarding the right to peaceful protest. The proposed Criminal Code amendments would penalise …
Albania and Italy have extended their agreement on the mutual recognition and conversion of driving licences for another five years. Albania’s Council of Ministers has approved the amendment, which continues the arrangement through an exchange of notes. The agreement allows Albanian citizens living in Italy and Italian citizens living in …
Deputy Economy and Innovation Minister Enkelejd Musabelliu presented a bill on cross-border transformations, mergers and divisions of companies to the Parliamentary Committee on Europe and Foreign Affairs. The bill aims to align Albanian legislation with European Union rules under Chapter 6 on company law. The proposal transposes EU Directive 2019/2121 …
Construction of the new Bahçallëk Bridge continues at a rapid pace at the entrance to Shkodër. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared footage of the works today, highlighting the investment in modern infrastructure. The project aims to improve road safety and ease traffic entering and leaving the city. It will also …